Mr Thomas (25), who is 50:50 sharemilking at Clydevale in South Otago, has entered the sharemilker/equity farmer of year section in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
Those entering online in the sharemilker/equity farmer of the year, farm manager of the year and dairy trainee of the year before December 1 will be eligible for the early entry prize draw.
One Honda Duster XR125 farm bike valued at $4000 will be drawn from early entrants in each of the three competitions. Entries close on December 20.
Entrants first enter one of 12 regional competitions being held around the country. The three winners from each of those regional competitions will then progress to the national final, which will be held in Auckland in May next year.
A first-time entrant in the competition, Mr Thomas said he was putting himself "out there" but he believed the rewards would be "well and truly worth it".
He expected the feedback from the judges to be invaluable.
His cousin Matthew Thomas, who moved south from Levin to work for him, has entered the dairy trainee section of the dairy industry awards.
Shaun had wanted to be a dairy farmer since he was "just a wee kid" growing up in the Rangitikei region in the North Island.
Brought up on a dairy farm until it was sold when he was 12 and then a drystock farm, he described himself as a "typical farmer's kid". He helped on a dairy farm and also a sheep and cropping farm while at secondary school.
His father and his uncle suggested he should try something else before he went dairy farming.
After leaving Feilding Agricultural High School at 16, he shifted to the South Island and went mustering in the high country.
He spent a year at Erewhon Station - "I went to nowhere and started from there" - a remote 14,164ha property at the headwaters of the Rangitata River. He described that experience as "absolutely magic".
Horses played a major role in daily farming life on the property and there were not many New Zealand farms that did not own a motorbike, he said.
A Toyota Landcruiser was kept as an emergency vehicle but, otherwise, they either took a horse or walked.
That was followed by a year at Mt Alford Station, near Methven, and then casual work "all over the show" - from Canterbury to the Maniototo.
By then, he was at the stock manager stage and he decided it was time for a "proper" career path to get into his own farm.
He could not see a direct path in sheep farming like there was in dairy farming, and so he started his dairy farming career in Mid-Canterbury.
After working on various properties there and then North Canterbury, he moved to South Otago to start work on June 1, 50:50 sharemilking for Dave and Christine Benny. His new job was "brilliant".
For young people, he did not think there were too many industries that would rival dairy farming, with "so many opportunities out there".
He believed there was no such thing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, rather there were opportunities every day.
Mr Thomas's goal was still very much farm ownership and the key was to keep costs low and raise production to get there.
He was also keen to get involved with the community and he is a member of Clinton Young Farmers Club, which was a good way to meet people his own age.
He has entered the National Bank Young Farmer Contest in the past, making it to regional final level, and he was keen to "have a crack" at the competition again.
He was in Search and Rescue and the fire brigade in Mid-Canterbury and plans to get involved in those organisations in his new area.