The search is on for a new crop of achievers

The search is on for a new crop of achievers

Your country needs you – the call is out to young people who are working full time in the horticulture industry to enter the seventh annual Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.

Over the next few months horticulturists aged 30 years or under representing eight industry sectors, will be encouraged to enter their sector competition. The winner of each of these competitions will then go on to participate in all the activities associated with the Grand Final of the Horticulturist of the Year competition, to be held in Auckland over two days.

Managed by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust in conjunction with the partnering sponsors, AGMARDT, Fruitfed Supplies, NZ Horticulture ITO and Turners & Growers, the competition is looking to identify young people employed in the horticulture industry who are enthusiastic about their careers and willing to take on extra challenges which may initiate future leadership roles.

Professor Jacqueline Rowarth, Director Massey Agriculture, Massey University, is a strong supporter of the competition and urges participation.

“The primary production sector is calling out for great people,” said Professor Rowarth. “This competition with its national profile, seeks to identify these people.

“One thing candidates can do to show they are motivated and want to go far in the industry is to take the first step in entering their sector competition, while having the grand final
as an ultimate goal.

“The rewards are so very great. You will come out of it with a great deal of extra knowledge, not just about the industry, but about yourselves. The primary production sector is a complex business, but there are many different places you can fit in. It’s a flexible industry offering a huge number of different types of potential jobs.”

From a prize pool of more than $40,000 the overall winner receives a selection of prizes, including a travel package to the value of $9,000. Second prize includes a Massey University study package to the value of $5,500, plus a $2000 FMG travel package.

In addition to the main prizes, there are a number of awards on offer. For the finalist who receives the highest score for the practical activities during the grand final will receive a Turners & Growers travel scholarship valued at $5,000.

For the finalist who receives the highest score for a range of activities with a focus on crop management practices and sustainability will receive a $2000 Bayer scholarship, plus $500 cash. There is also a $5000 cash prize for the best overall AGMARDT Market Innovation Project submitted by the finalists.

Twenty-eight-year-old Marlborough viticulturist Stuart Dudley, who won the 2010 competition representing NZ Wine Growers, is using his travel prize this year to study cooler climate wine regions in South America and Europe.

”This is a project I had always dreamed about,” said Stuart. “The young hort. competition has opened that door, plus assisted in identifying contacts to meet when I am overseas.

“The contacts I have made through the competition are invaluable. I don’t think there is any other way in this country that a young person in the horticultural industry can meet people at the top of their game.”

Stuart admits he had to overcome a lot of nerves and work on his confidence as he progressed through his regional and sector competitions to reach the final.

“I also had to face my weaknesses. Mine is a technical job, so I had to clue up on more practical industry applications, such as the use of machinery and work place safety.

“Based on the strength of my fellow competitors I didn’t go into the final confident I was going to win. Just being in the final was an achievement. It was well worth it. Apart from the amazing prizes, I learnt so much – it is a great process to go through.”

Participants must enter the competition via one of the following horticultural sectors and then go on to win the final of their respective sector competitions:

NZ Arboriculture Association
The Fruit Sector and the Vegetable Sector of Horticulture NZ
Floriculture, which includes Florists NZ Inc (FLONZI) and NZ Flower Growers
Landscaping NZ
Nursery and Garden Industry Association
NZ Recreation Ass’n-Amenity Horticulture
NZ Winegrowers

Closing times for applications will vary between sectors, but will be no later than the 30th June 2011.
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