Jessie Waite won the award for her service to farmers. She organised a series of family BBQs for drought-ravaged farmers to help get them off their farms.

A Taranaki woman is one of three NZ Young Farmers members who have won national leadership awards.

Jessie Waite, Michael McCombs and James Goodwin are the 2018 recipients of the NZ Young Farmers Excellence Awards.

The awards are designed to recognise members who are leaders, achievers and role models.

"This year's winners are shining examples of young people who are stepping-up and making a difference," board chair Ash-Leigh Campbell said.

"The trio epitomises everything our Excellence Awards stand for."

Jessie Waite, 26, works for Taranaki Federated Farmers, managing the organisation's regional office in New Plymouth.

A savage drought last summer saw her help mobilise a big relief effort and hit the road to deliver it.

A series of family BBQs were held in drought-ravaged communities to entice weather-weary farmers off their farms.

"Having a summer holiday was the last thing on my mind when the welfare of Taranaki's farmers was taking another hit," Waite, who's a member of Central Taranaki Young Farmers, said.

A nomination submitted by the organisation's farmer executive said the BBQs would not have happened without her.

"It was because of her hard work that over an extremely stressful time hundreds of struggling farmers were able to get off the farm and forget about the dry for a while," it said.

Waite said she was humbled by the win.

"I definitely don't do what I do to get recognition, but when I do it's a nice pat on the back," she said.

Michael McCombs, 26, contract milks 400 cows at Kimbolton and has been a volunteer firefighter for four years.

The Marton Young Farmers chair and former Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year said he was stoked to even be nominated.

James Goodwin, 31, has been recognised for his role convening the 50th FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Invercargill.

James runs his family's Gore sheep farm which has 3,700 ewes, and is a long-time member of Waitane Young Farmers.

There were 15 nominations submitted for this year's awards.

The winners will be presented with their awards at the NZ Young Farmers Conference Week in Christchurch in February.