4 minute read
How one competition has changed the future for this budding horticulturist
Studying for a Bachelor of Agriscience majoring in horticulture at Massey University helped fuel Regan Judd’s passion for horticulture, but taking out the Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition in 2019 has given Regan a lot more than he expected. With the 2020 competition cancelled due to Covid-19, Regan Judd has offered his advice to those thinking about entering June’s competition – ‘just do it!’ Hawke’s Bay is the home for two-thirds of New Zealand’s apple and pear production, so it’s not surprising that the region’s Young Fruit Grower competition has traditionally attracted its fair proportion of pipfruit contestants. The competition run by the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association (HBFA) is now in its 16th year. “At the time there was an obvious gap in the industry to support and encourage the development of young horticulturists,” says Leon Stallard, past president of HBFA (2005–2014). “So I came up with the Young Fruit Grower concept, twisted a few arms and here we are 16 years on. It’s just incredible to see the competition running nationwide and recognised as a very successful framework to identify and develop our future leaders.” “We had 60 or so people turn up to watch the first competition at Pernel Café back in 2005 – most were ring-in’s!” Leon says. “There was little planning, or more rightly as we said back then ‘what happens is the plan!’” With the event growing in popularity every year, the Association starts planning for it five months out, with the final eight spaces strongly contested and an awards dinner that sells out well in advance.
Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition in action
“Horticulture is a growth industry and there are endless career options if individuals do the mahi, are determined and want to succeed,” says HBFA president, Richard Pentreath.
“Regan and previous contestants are exactly the kind of people our industry needs and it’s great that we can provide them with a platform to showcase their talent.” Regan entered the competition in 2019 to give himself the opportunity to meet other like-minded people and to test his skills and knowledge. “The competition showed me where my strengths were, and what I needed to work on. But the biggest takeaway was the connections I made throughout the local industry, connections that will no doubt influence me as I continue my career. It’s a great environment to meet new people and learn new things. Both through the competition and through the new connections you make along the way. It is an extremely rewarding experience, one that will open doors to create a great future for you in the horticulture industry,” says Regan.
The competition runs in conjunction with the National Horticultural Fieldays and provides businesses with an opportunity to identify emerging talent. Eight contestants are tested on a range of theoretical and practical challenges on the first day of activities, and then deliver a speech at the awards dinner the following night. The winner goes on to represent Hawke’s Bay at the Young Grower of the Year final later in the year. “The Young Grower competitions helped me to appreciate just how exciting our industry is,” Regan says. “The opportunity to get to know other young growers from across the country has helped me to understand why I do what I do and made me enjoy it even more. “Winning the title also gave me the opportunity to join the Executive International Horticultural Immersion Programme where we travelled to Europe in early 2020. It opened up my eyes to horticultural practises on the other side of the world. The influence all this has had on my career is massive, it has provided me with a great path to grow my knowledge and to step up in an exciting industry.” Two years on and it’s time to hand over the silverware. What’s Regan Judd’s advice? Just do it!
The National Horticultural Fieldays always draw a large crowd
The Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition entries close on 30 April. For more information and to complete the application form online: https://hbfa.co.nz/ yfoty-contestant-entry-form-2021/
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