Young Horticulturist 2022 Finalists
The 2022 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition takes place on 8 and 9 November, the 17th year of the highly regarded industry competition which aims to encourage and recognise the talented young people under the age of 30 working in horticulture.
Run by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, the Young Horticulturist sees representatives of seven horticultural sectors challenged over a two-day grand final held at the New Zealand Bloodstock Centre in Karaka. Participants will be assessed on their performance in an array of business and practical challenges.
Duncan Fletcher, Fruitfed Supplies National Manager, says Fruitfed Supplies has supported the competition as a sponsoring partner from the outset.
“Recruiting and retaining talented young people in the horticultural sector is as important today as it was when the Young Horticulturist started in 2005,” Duncan says. “Our organisation actively fosters the career development of our people, so it fits well for us to support like-minded industry organisations trying to grow the profile of the horticulture sector and showcase the many varied and interesting roles available in our business. I congratulate all the sector finalists on being selected and wish them all the best in the upcoming grand final.”
The 2022 Young Horticulturist finalists:
Representing New Zealand Winegrowers is the 2021 Young Viticulturist title winner Sam Bain, age 30, from Hawke’s Bay where he’s a Viticulturist for Indevin. The 2022 winner Tahryn Mason, who works for Villa Maria in Marlborough, will participate in the 2023 edition of the Young Horticulturist.
Representing the New Zealand Arboriculture Association is 24-year-old Solomon Caldwell who works for Arborlab Consultancy in Auckland and won the 2021 New Arborist of the Year title.
Representing New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated is Amy Clark, age 28, who works for Kings Plant Barn in Botany, Auckland and won the NZPPI 2022 Young Achiever of the Year competition held in July.
Representing the New Zealand Recreation Association is 29-year-old Jodie McDonnell who works for Auckland
Botanic Gardens and was selected as the 2022 Young Amenity Horticulturist.
Representing Florists and Flower Growers New Zealand Incorporated (Flonzi) is Courtney Chamberlain, age 28, who works for Hadstock Farm in Christchurch and was selected as the Flonzi representative for this year’s competition.
Representing Registered Master Landscapers New Zealand is Guillaume (Gilly) Chabert, age 29, who works for Natural Habitats Landscapers in Auckland and won the 2022 Young Landscaper competition held in August.
Representing Horticulture New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Sectors is 26-year-old Regan Judd who works for T&G Global in Hawke’s Bay and was the runner-up of the 2021 Young Grower competition. The 2022 Young Grower winner Meryn Whitehead is a supervisor with Vailima Orchards in Nelson and will contest the 2023 Young Horticulturist.
The seven finalists have already gathered for an orientation day at the Auckland Botanic Gardens organised by Competition Manager Leanda Childs.
It’s been a busy year for Leanda and her team with the 2021 Young Horticulturist competition delayed until February this year due to covid interruptions. The top three places went to Rhys Hall from Marlborough representing NZ Winegrowers, Danielle McBride from Northland representing NZ Plant Producers Inc. and Timmy Cooper from Dunedin representing the NZ Recreation Association. All six 2021 finalists have also benefited from a professional development day at Auckland Botanic Gardens in May which incorporated leadership training from Belbin Facilitator Candice Collier, a talk about life after competition from 2014 winner Patrick Malley, thoughts on leadership in the field from Greg Lazzaro, financial advice from ANZ’s Chris Briggs, a guided tour of Auckland Botanic Gardens, and networking and socialising with past finalists.
More information about the Young Horticulturist is available on their website.
