More than 100 nominations were received across various Awards categories, with the finalists reviewed by an independent judging panel.

Winners of the 2022 Awards will be announced in Canberra next Thursday, 8 September. All nominees are highly regarded in their farming circles, families, communities and within their peer networks.

The finalists in each category are (in alphabetical order):

• Australian Farmer of the Year
  Carl Walker, Queensland
  Kim Brasser, Victoria
  Michael Taylor, New South Wales

• Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by McDonald's Australia
  Alison Henderson, South Australia
  Brad Egan, WA
  Jake Ryan, WA
  James Venning, South Australia
• Award for Excellence in Diversification
  Christopher Hunt, Western Australia
  Jake Ryan, WA
  Mathew Bowker, Victoria
  Michael Taylor, New South Wales
  Nick Ormsby and Whitney Dollemore, Northern Territory
• Award for Excellence in Innovation, sponsored by Telstra
  Brad Egan, WA
  Iain and Kate Field, Tasmania
  Kim Brasser, Victoria
  Kim Byrnes, New South Wales
  Heath Whibley, Cam Moon and Jack Moyses, New South Wales and WA
  Michael Taylor, New South Wales
  Nick Ormsby and Whitney Dollemore, Northern Territory
• Rural Consultant of the Year, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience
  John Webb Ware, Victoria
  Matt Norton, Queensland
  Peter McInerney, New South Wales
• Farming Legend of the Year
  Alf Collins Snr, Queensland
  Brendan Finnigan, Victoria
  Richard Wright, New South Wales
• Rural Community Leader of the Year
• Sarah Parker, Victoria
  Susan Lyle, New South Wales
  Tania Brookes, Tasmania
• Agricultural Student of the Year, sponsored by AgriFutures Australia
  James Easter, South Australia
  Nathan Jones, South Australia
  Reece Webster, New South Wales
• Award for Excellence in Technology, sponsored by New Holland
  Brad Egan, WA
  Charles Simons, New South Wales
  James Venning, South Australia
  Kim Byrnes, New South Wales
• Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research, sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
  Chris Preston, South Australia
  Kate Gunn, South Australia
  Nick Berry, South Australia

For more details, follow the Awards via @ausfarmerawards or tune in to your state's ABC Country Hour program on Thursday 8 September.