Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Fruitfed Supplies Horticultural Scholarship, Ben Penno.
Originally from Lower Hutt, Ben’s interest in horticulture started with visits to his grandparents’ mixed cropping farm and he’s always enjoyed growing vegetables at home. He’s taught himself various propagation techniques and pursued his passion for growing things by attending Massey University to study horticulture.
Now coming towards the end of his three-year degree, Ben’s passion for horticulture has increased with the variety of topics studied. “The academic study has helped me develop a more holistic view of horticulture and this year I have particularly enjoyed papers on Trees on Farms and Plant Diversity.”
During university summer breaks, Ben has worked for the PGG Wrightson Seeds plant breeding facility and a north Canterbury sheep and beef farm where apples, pears, cherries and hops are also grown.
Hops, as a crop, are of special interest. “Being a long-lived, herbaceous perennial harvested for its cones, they’re unique within horticulture. Plus New Zealand hop growers have created speciality varieties that only grow here. The future of hops in New Zealand is interesting and I’d like to be part of it in some way.”
Being this year’s scholarship recipient is a welcome boost during Ben’s final year of intense study. “It helps my finances so I’m not under pressure to work when I could be prioritising study instead. I’ve also enjoyed meeting people through the scholarship, and it’s opened my eyes to career opportunities that are available at
PGG Wrightson and Fruitfed Supplies.”
The Fruitfed Supplies Horticultural Scholarship is worth $5000, awarded to one Massey University student each year and promotes excellence in horticulture by supporting future leaders in the industry. It’s been awarded annually since 2020, and applications open again in March 2025.
