For Jack Fagan, winning the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit wasn’t just a moment of glory, it was the result of a 15-year journey built on grit, discipline, world travel, and a love of life on the land.

Now 33, Jack has been shearing since he left school, carving out a career that has taken him the globe many times over and more recently, led him to one of the most respected titles in New Zealand shearing. 

Born and raised in Te Kuiti, Jack always knew the land was where he belonged. The city life never appealed, and a short stint exploring a career in the Air Force confirmed that for him.

“When I was at school, I went for a visit to the air base at Whenuapai, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I realised I never wanted to live in town or the city so then I decided that my future was to go travelling and then buy a farm.

“And it ended up that shearing was a great way to do both.”

The pull of a rural lifestyle was about animals, community and a way of life that felt authentic, and it was this desire, along with a great work ethic, that set Jack up for success at every step of his journey. 

“I’ve been employed since I was 13. My first job was working at an engineering firm after school. I wanted to make money, get ahead, and be self-sufficient and this mindset still drives me today - the harder you work, the more opportunities you create. 

Before travelling as a shearer, Jack worked a number of seasons overseas, including time spent in Norway when he got a job bringing sheep off the trucks and up the line into the slaughterhouses.

Then from there, his shearing career took off. He trained in New Zealand under respected instructors, Sonny Marshall and Dean Te Huia, and quickly realised the sport and the lifestyle could take him as far as he was willing to go. 

It also happened that Jack’s father is a rather well-known figure in the shearing community - Sir David Fagan - so he literally grew up immersed in the National competition, before he could even hold a hand piece.  

“My dad won the title nine times but was gutted he couldn’t crack the 10. So I like to think we got the 10 between us.

“The last time I remember him winning was 2003. But dad won nearly everything growing up, so I don’t remember much of what he won - more like what he didn’t win.”

However Jack’s journey hasn’t been about simply living in his father’s shadow. It’s been about learning from the best, building his own career, and earning his own place among the elite. And it’s his belief that you become who you surround yourself with that Jack attributes to getting to where he is today.

“The shearing community is really close - it doesn’t take long to build friendships and find those who are willing to help you out.  

“I’m lucky that my mentors since day one have been Dion King, Digger and my dad, and I have spent a lot of time with all of them to upskill as much as I can.”

Jack began competing almost as soon as he picked up a handpiece, and he credits competition with shaping him into the shearer he is today.

“I learnt at the competitions,” he says. “That sporting side of shearing - I love the thrill of competing, especially the open class.”

And while some athletes struggle under pressure, Jack thrives on it.

“I dream about having those opportunities. Some people don’t enjoy those individual big moments, but it gives me a rush.”

And this year, everything came together.

Winning the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit had been a long-held dream, not a sudden ambition, but something he’d chased for more than a decade.

“It is something I have dreamed about. It’s always been one I really wanted.”

The circuit is a unique test, requiring competitors to shear across five different wool types. It’s a challenge that demands adaptability, technique, and experience, and Jack believes his years overseas have been essential preparation.

“That’s why I’ve travelled so much. You get exposed to so many different breeds of sheep and so many different wool types.”

Among the many countries he’s worked in - and there have been plenty - France stands out as his favourite, not just for the work, but for the culture.

“The way they live their life, the way they communicate and the fact their life revolves around food,” he says.

But some of his most memorable experiences have been in places like Corsica and Sardinia, where shearing is as much a social occasion as it is a job.

“It’s like stepping back in time. They’re not huge on money and at shearing time, everyone comes together - it’s a huge community event.

Outside of that, all they want to do is eat and drink all day.

“The world of shearing is incredible. If you want to do it, the opportunities are everywhere - there’s a job in any back block in the world.”
But still, no matter how far he travels, New Zealand remains home.

“I know I’m biased, but it’s the best country in the world. From the beaches to the mountaintops, I love that it’s not overpopulated, but it's still easy to access the world.”  

Jack doesn’t shy away from the reality of what it takes to reach the top. Since September, he had been training consistently, balancing gym work in between long days in the shed.

“But I don’t really see it as a problem. It’s normal to make an effort if you want to do good.”

His ability to push through pain and fatigue has also been shaped by his experience in world record attempts, including two he describes as ‘absolute torture’. But then you learn how hard you can push yourself, he says - when you think you find where the limit is and then realise how much further you can actually go.

That mindset paid off in the final, which he describes as the defining moment of the season.

“I had my game plan and stuck to it.”

And for the first time in years, he didn’t just perform - he dominated.

“To be top in the circuit, top in the semi and top in the final meant I was top all season, which was a dream come true.”

Then next came the prize. Thanks to PGW, and a partnership with Hyundai, Jack is now the proud owner of a set of keys to a brand-new Santa Fe for the next 12 months, and he’s already got many kms planned for the vehicle, with its first big tripped planned for the next shearing season down south. 

But for Jack, the bigger meaning is what the prize represents for shearers across the country - especially for the younger ones.

“This isn’t an event you magically come good at overnight,” he says. “It took me 12 years to win, it was my fourth time in the final. So I still can’t believe I finally did it.”

Rachel Shearer, General Manager of Wool for PGW, says watching the finals reinforced just how important the shearing shed is to the success of the entire wool sector.

“Watching the PGG Wrightson / Vetmed National Shearing Circuit finals really reinforced just how crucial shearers and wool handlers are to our industry. 

“The level of skill on display was exceptional, and it was a privilege to see so many experienced professionals alongside emerging talent. Jack Fagan is a very deserving winner, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop at the elite level.”

She says the impact of skilled shearing goes far beyond sport.

“Behind every wool product is a highly skilled team, and a crucial step is in the shearing shed. The way wool is harvested and handled has a direct impact on its quality, and ultimately the price growers receive.”

For Jack, success isn’t just about titles, it’s about self-worth, long-term goals, knowing what’s possible. And while retirement from the sport is still a long way off, Jack already knows he wants to give back to an industry that has given him so much.  

For now, though, he’s earned the right to enjoy the moment, a hard-fought win, a career milestone, and a place at the top of one of the toughest circuits in the country.

After more than a decade chasing it, Jack Fagan has finally claimed the title he’s dreamed about and in doing so, has proven that dedication, professionalism, and a love of the land can take you anywhere in the world, and right back home again.