Grace Watson

2025 Finalists

Grace Watson

Whakatohea

Grace Watson, 24, is currently employed as a Shepherd General for Wendy and Reon Verry of Verry Farming Limited on their 1,000ha (effective) Puketitiri Station in the King Country, near Te Kuiti.

Grace grew up on her parent’s dairy farm in a small rural community at the foot of Mt Tarawera called Rerewhakaaitu. Grace and her three younger sisters spent a lot of time on farm as children. She believes her strongest values and attributes were instilled through watching her parents passion and dedication to working on the whenua.

After finishing high school Grace pursued her passion for sport representing New Zealand on the international stage for rowing. Unsure of her future endeavours but ready for a new challenge Grace found herself emerged in the unknown territory of sheep and beef farming on the hills of the East Coast. Farming runs deep in Grace’s blood so in a way it was no surprise to her when she found herself rounding up a team of dogs.

Grace will have been at Puketitiri Station coming up one year in July. Puketitiri runs 3,500 breeding ewes and 1,200 replacements. The flock is split between terminal, Coopworth and Wiltshire ewes. The station winters around 180 breeding cows, 400 bulls, 240 dairy grazers, 150 steers and 80 beef heifers. Grace has enjoyed the challenge of helping to manage and juggle feed requirements and health measures/preventatives for the various classes of stock. Grace speaks highly of Wendy and Reon as they are passionate about the health of the waterways on farm and take pride in fencing off buffer zones and riparian planting where possible. Grace also appreciates that the station is committed to supporting rangatahi with an interest in agriculture through the Growing Future Farmers programme. She enjoys the opportunity to share some of the knowledge that has been passed down to her with others who are keen to learn.

Grace is currently completing the Level 4 Primary ITO Sheep and Beef course to help prepare her to step up into a stock manager/managers role sometime in the future. Her ultimate long-term goal being farm ownership with her partner, Will. In the short term, Grace is thriving off the opportunities presented to her. Exploring the foreign territory of investing and home ownership, she feels lucky to have the guidance and support of those around her in helping make that end dream a reality. Grace says the learning and growth she can feel within herself are a sure sign that she is in a good space.

Life off-farm for Grace is spending quality time with whānau and friends, exploring the outdoors and a bit of hunting and fishing. She is looking forward to joining a local club for the upcoming netball season.

Grace hopes to encourage rangatahi back to their roots, to live off their whenua. To work hard yet enjoy the lifestyle that farming allows. She is thankful to those who gave her the opportunities to find her way in the agriculture sector and encourages more farm managers and owners to do the same. Grace sees the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award as an invaluable opportunity to represent her whānau, iwi, farm and network of supporters to whom she owes so much. She is excited to embark on this waka with Ahuwhenua.