Young Horticulturist of the Year

Organised by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust and the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (NZHITO), the Young Horticulturist of the Year aims to inspire and acknowledge the talents of young people employed in the horticultural industry.
 

Fruitfed Supplies is delighted to be able to support this relatively new competition as a gold sponsor which includes contributions towards prizes for the top three place-getters.

The competition embraces all aspects of the horticultural industry with finalists drawn from arboriculture, fruit growing, grape growing, nursery, vegetable growing, landscaping, cut flowers, floristry and turf sectors. Each sector runs regional/national competitions to select their finalist, who goes through to the national Young Horticulturist of the Year grand final in November each year.

The competition was first run in 2005 and is modelled on the Young Farmer of the Year event. Over $30,000 worth of prizes for the finalists include overseas travel, an educational management course, gift vouchers redeemable at Fruitfed Supplies, clothing and tools.

The final involves a number of practical and computer-based activities, as well as a short speech and a series of quick-fire questions during a dinner event.

See www.hortito.org.nz for more information.
 

2007 Young Horticulturist of the Year

 
Emma Taylor, a viticulturist with Villa Maria in Napier, (centre) won the 2007 Young Horticulturist of the Year title. Robert Humphries, the Te Puke-based fruit sector representative, was second, while Gavin Lodge, of Te Awamutu representing the landscape industry, (left) took third place.

The finalists in the 2007 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition were:

Back row, left to right:
-  Meredith Guy, Technical Manager for Pacific Bark in Napier, representing the Nursery and Garden Industry Association.
-  Elena O'Neill, Tree Advisor for the Dunedin City Council, representing the Arboriculture Association.
-  Louise Heller, Florist and part-time tutor in Christchurch, representing Floristry NZ Inc.

Front row:
-  Gavin Lodge, Landscaper for Ground FX in the Waikato, representing the Landscaping Association.
-  Robert Humphries, Assistant Site Manager for Seeka Kiwifruit in the Tauranga region, representing the fruit sector of Horticulture NZ.
-  Emma Taylor, Company Viticulturist with Villa Maria in Napier, representing NZ Winegrowers.
-  Chris Vork, Horticultural Coordinator with Pukekura Park in New Plymouth representing the NZ Recreation Association.
-  Jeff van Rijen, Glasshouse tomato grower in the Waikato, representing the vegetable sector of Horticulture NZ.

Read the full story in the December 2007 issue of Fruitfed Facts here

 

2006 Young Horticulturist of the Year

The 2006 Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition saw Blenheim vineyard manager Marcus Wickham take out the title.

Marcus’ fellow finalists were: florist Renee Amodeo, of Auckland; public garden manager Rewi Elliot, of Wellington; landscaper Erin Farrow, of Auckland; cropping field manager Gareth Holder of Napier (placed second); nursery manager Paul Jameson of Nelson; orchid grower Carl Jaunay, of Hikurangi (placed third);  arborist James King of Wellington and orchard manager Shaun Vickers of Hamilton.

The 2006 Young Horticulturist of the Year, Marcus Wickham with is wife Samantha	The 2006 YHOTY finalists with sponsors HortFert Plus