Mr Matheson also won the Meridian Leadership merit award.
He is the farm manager for Chris Lawlor on his 290ha, 700-cow Gore property and won $11,400 in prizes.
The judges noted his casual, relaxed style and that he is an extremely capable manager who runs the farm for an overseas owner.
Judges' comments described him as being goal-driven with staff as a top priority.
The Dairy Manager judges were impressed by the calibre of all the finalists and by what they were achieving at a young age.
One of the judges, Annalize du Plessis, of Dipton, said the judges agreed the dairy industry was in good hands.
''All the entrants were so inspiring and driven people,'' Mrs du Plessis said.
''I would be happy to employ any of them.''
Colin and Isabella Beazley from Northland were named the 2019 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Matt Redmond, of Culverden, became the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Nicola Blowey, of Fairlie, was named the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.
They shared prizes worth over $210,000.
The runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition were Tokoroa contract milkers Marc and Nia Jones and Manawatu 50/50 sharemilkers Thomas and Jemima Bebbington, were placed third.
The Dairy Trainee runner-up was Matt Dawson from Waikato, and Harry Phipps, of Rotorua, was third.
