Excellence in a growth area

Excellence in a growth area

Stuart Dudley of Blenheim is the 2010 Young Horticulturist of the Year.  Twenty-eight-year-old-year-old Stuart, a viticulturist at Delegat’s Wines Estate represented NZ Wine Growers at the Auckland final.

Stuart competed against seven other finalists from around the country who represented various areas of the horticulture industry and had reached the finals by winning their respective sector competitions. The Young Horticulturist of the Year was a two-day event, with a focus on practical horticulture skills. The finalists also presented to a judging panel pre-prepared marketing projects, a section of the competition which is supported by The Agriculture and Marketing Research Trust (AGMARDT).

Managed by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, the competition,

with a prize pool of more than $43,000, is sponsored by the NZ Horticulture Industry Training Organisation, Fruitfed Supplies, AGMARDT, FMG and Turners and Growers.  Manurewa’s Botanic Gardens were the venue for the practical section of the competition and the award function was held at the Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland, on Thursday evening (November 4th).   

Stuart says the competition took him out of his comfort zone.  “Being from the viticulture area I found some activities like planting a vegetable garden quite challenging.  But it is a case of preparing yourself mentally.  I always find with things like this the judges are looking to see what you do know, rather than what you don’t. You have to aware of the challenges and be ready to conqueror them.

“But overall it was an amazing couple of days.  Every one of the finalists deserved to win.”

 Stuart says he intends to use his travel prize to visit vine yards in Chile and Argentina.

Along with Stuart, sector finalists represented the NZ Arboricultural Association, Fruit Sector of Horticulture NZ, FLONZI, Landscaping NZ, Nursery and Garden Industry Association, NZ Recreation Ass’n-Amenity Horticulture and the Vegetable Sector of Horticulture NZ.

Event organiser Elenka Nikoloff says the competition recognises the country’s most talented horticulturists aged under 30 years.

 “They are the future of New Zealand’s horticulture industry; we are keen to applaud them and offer them assistance on their path to their leadership roles.

“This year we saw a very close competition; all the finalists were confident, practical all-rounders.  Horticulture is a great lifestyle career, but it is not just about planting and harvesting.  Participants, especially those who are looking at supervisory roles, must also be aware of industry trends and issues, have excellent managerial skills and show a flair for the marketing side of their industry.

 “Every year our aim is to make the competition challenging for the competitors and we are delighted the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. David Carter, has given it his backing, acknowledging it as an important initiative in the horticulture industry.”
 

Nursery & Garden Industry Association finalist Dave Harris of Nelson took second prize and Gareth Holder of Taradale, who represented the Vege Sector of Horticulture NZ, was third.

 ends

© Scoop Media