Miss Wilson (25), who is of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa descent, is an assistant manager on Nathan and Erin Christian's property, Lochan Mor, near Ashburton.
She is vying for the title against Oxford farm manager Mathew Pooley and Bay of Plenty acting manager Harepaora Ngaheu.
Miss Wilson was raised in Southland, where her parents worked on farms. After leaving school, she worked in shearing sheds and as a cook.
She said she had not looked back since stumbling upon the dairy industry five years ago.
A Southland dairy farmer who spotted her skill at rearing calves offered her a full-time job. She spent three years there, then moved north to the Christians' farm.
Another move further north is due next month - to manage Emlyn Francis' 600-cow Culverden farm.
Miss Wilson has completed Primary ITO courses at several levels and is now enrolled in level 5 production management.
She credits the Hinds Young Farmers club with helping her to make friends when she arrived in Canterbury. As well as chairing the club, she is a regional leader for the Mid Canterbury Dairy Women's Network.
Miss Wilson was runner-up in last year's Dairy Trainee of the Year for Canterbury-North Otago, which she said raised her profile and would help with career opportunities.
Other interests include hunting and playing netball.
Growing up a long way from her Bay of Plenty marae had prevented her from engaging with her culture to the extent she would have liked, she said. But she planned to change that and had set herself the goal of becoming a strong Maori leader in the dairy sector.
There were very few Maori pursuing careers on dairy farms, so she wanted to mentor young Maori to help them advance in the sector.
She entered the Ahuwhenua award to strengthen her development as a leader. Being selected as a finalist was also a way of acknowledging the people who had supported her, she said.
Lead judge Peter Little said all three finalists were exceptional young people who had set aspirational career goals and worked hard to achieve them.
''It is great to see young people reaping the rewards of their hard work and acting as role models for other young Maori who may be seeking a future in the dairy industry or who are looking at ways to move up the employment ladder in the sector.''
The winner will be announced in Christchurch on May 25.
The competition is held annually, alternating between dairy and sheep and beef.
