Regan Judd scoops award for second time

from The Orchardist | July 2021

Future of Rockit unveiled

Regan Judd receives the award

A focus on consistency ensured T&G orchard foreman Regan Judd will represent the Hawke’s Bay region at the national Young Grower contest in September.

By Rose Mannering

Regan was crowned the Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower for the second time in a very tight battle for the title on 4 June at Toitoi, the Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre.

Regan grew up on a dairy farm near Bulls, but after a stint working on orchards opted to follow a horticulture career path. He graduated from Massey University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science majoring in Horticulture and was taken on by T&G in their graduate programme. He has worked his way up to foreman in the Thompson sector of orchards near Havelock North.

“I entered the contest to challenge myself against my peers, but also to meet other people in the industry, and to build contacts,” he says. Regan won the regional event in 2019 and came third in the national competition, but last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. Regan finished three points ahead of his nearest rival and first-time entrant, Liam Sykes, an assistant manager for Freshco at Puketapu. Regan’s focus on consistency across the competition paid off in the battle for the award; he was one of eight vying for the top spot in Hawke’s Bay. The contest comprised a practical session on 3 June, run by the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association in conjunction with the National Horticultural Field Days. Challenges included analysing soil test results to recommend a fertiliser programme, irrigation repair and programming, using virtual reality goggles to make pruning cuts, filling an empty bucket with water using a digger, a building challenge, identifying pests and diseases, and market access issues.

Blindfolded taste testing in the Hortisports section was a true test of the contestants’ palate for apples

Regan admitted preparing and delivering the speech was his biggest challenge, and particularly as his speech topic, ‘Supply Chain Optimisation’, was outside of his own knowledge base. He spoke to people within his organisation to help him research his speech topic. With increased pressure worldwide on shipping space availability, he promoted industry collaboration to help with this going forward. This year’s national final is in Wellington on 22 and 23 September, where six regional finalists will compete for their share of $30,000 in prizes.

Regan is motivated to enter the competition to keep pushing himself forward. He is also keen to pass these skills on to other people in the industry. “I grew up on the family dairy farm, but I like orcharding, and I haven’t looked back,” he says.

The calibre of contestants was excellent, with the battle for first and second particularly close

Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association president Richard Pentreath says the organising team was thrilled with how the competition ran. “The calibre of contestants was excellent, with the battle for first and second particularly close; this bodes well for next time,” he says.

He was particularly impressed with the calibre of the speeches, with competitors “owning their topics”, they were all really on target. A new award was sprung on contestants this year, the Kai Mahi award for professionalism and leadership qualities, which was won by Liam Sykes. Horticulture New Zealand President Barry O’Neil says the competition plays an important role in supporting the next generation of horticulture industry leaders. “Each of the eight contestants delivered excellent, insightful speeches on a range of topics covering the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. It’s clear contestants have an amazing future in the industry.”