Horticulture competition cultivates young leaders

Competition cultivates young leaders

10 November 2011

Ben Smith of Pukekohe is the 2011 Young Horticulturist of the Year. Twenty-nine-year-old Ben, who represented Horticulture NZ, received his award at a function in Auckland this evening (Thursday November 10th).

Ben is a grower manager for Status Produce at Tuakau, responsible for a 5½ hectare greenhouse site growing ranges of speciality tomatoes for supermarkets, food service companies and for export.

Ben competed against five other finalists from around the country, who represented various areas of the horticulture industry and had reached the final by winning their respective sector competitions.

Over the last two days the finalists tested their expertise in a range of challenges including impressing the judges with their marketing, presentation and accounting skills.

Today’s activities were held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, where the focus was on practical horticultural tasks.

The competition has a prize pool of more than $40,000 and looks to identify horticulturists willing to take on extra challenges which may initiate future leadership roles. It is managed by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, in conjunction with the partnering sponsors: The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT), Fruitfed Supplies, Turners & Growers and the NZ Horticulture Industry Training Organisation.

“This year we saw a very close competition; all the finalists were confident, practical all-rounders,” said Richard Bawden, National Manager of Fruitfed Supplies, – part of PGG Wrightson Ltd.

“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 have excellent managerial skills, show a flair for the marketing side of their industry and be aware of industry trends and issues, for example, around sustainability."

Along with Ben, sector finalists represented Landscaping NZ, Nursery and Garden Industry Association, NZ Arboriculture Association, NZ Recreation Ass’n-Amenity Horticulture and NZ Winegrowers.

NZ Recreation Assn/Amenity Horticulture sector finalist Rebekah (Rangi) Green, of Waterview, Auckland, was placed second and Landscaping New Zealand finalist Paul Southan, of Mt Albert, Auckland, took third place.

Horticulture NZ finalist Ben Smith, of Pukekohe

As a grower manager for Status Produce at Tuakau, 29-year-old Ben Smith is responsible for a 5½ hectare greenhouse site growing ranges of speciality tomatoes for supermarkets, food service companies and for export.

Ben entered the industry after enjoying the horticulture option at high school. He was then encouraged by the directors of Status Produce to pursue it as career.

“They were looking to the future and wanted to help young people who were enthusiastic about the industry.” said Ben. “The company assisted me through university, where I achieved a Bachelor of Science, with a horticultural science major and I started with Status at the bottom, working my way up from a grower to a technical manager.”

Ben then looked overseas and spent two years growing tomatoes on the Isle of Wight for Wight Salads Group, a leading UK organic tomato supplier. This allowed him to experience a different growing climate and special marketing requirements.

Returning to New Zealand he spent a year at the horticultural supplies specialist company Horticentre Limited at Pukekohe and Drury, before returning to Status Produce last year.

Ben took the national title of Young Grower of the Year in July, after earning his place at the competition by taking out the Young Vegetable Grower of the Year title earlier this year. His prize as the Young Grower of the Year included a trip to Queensland to visit outdoor tomato growers.

Ben’s future plans include staying at Status Produce to focus on “growing great tomatoes”.

On the home front, however, Ben says he is terrible gardener and prefers to tackle indoor renovation chores.

NZ Recreation Assn/Amenity Horticulture sector finalist Rebekah (Rangi) Green, of Waterview, Auckland

As an amenity gardener at the Auckland Botanic Gardens, 27-year-old Rangi Green works alongside amenity, asset, nursery and curator teams responsible for the Garden’s 156 acres and more than 10,000 plants.

NZ Arboriculture Association finalist Jenn Noakes, of Mosgiel

Jenn (26) returned to New Zealand in February after working in British Columbia as an arborist, green keeper and fire fighter. She can now found assessing and trimming trees for a Dunedin garden management company.

NZ Winegrowers finalist Nick Paulin, of Bannockburn

A vineyard manager for Peregrine Wines, 28-year-old Nick is involved with the running of 40 hectares of organically-certified vines for the Gibbston Valley company, which sources produce from Gibbston and Cromwell to produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Nursery and Garden Industry Association finalist Michael Scott, of Whenuapai

Twenty-seven-year-old production manager Michael Scott describes his workplace as a “birthing unit”. From baby buxus and bananas, to petite pohutukawa and pittosporums, Michael is responsible for at least 500,000 tiny plants growing at Scott Base Nursery, Whenuapai.

Landscaping New Zealand finalist Paul Southan, of Mt Albert

Paul Southan originally set his sights on architecture as a career, but the practical side of construction work increasing appealed. Now 24-year-old Paul is a foreman at Humphrey Landscaping working on prestige Auckland properties.

ENDS

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