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More than 280 people from around the horticultural industry came to see Ward take out the 2015 title at a sold-out gala dinner.
The Young Grower of the Year is an annual competition run by Horticulture New Zealand to select the finest young fruit or vegetable grower in the country. The competition involves four regional events and the winners from each region go forward to contest the final.
Ward, who works as a technical advisor at Apata Group Ltd, beat seven other competitors in a series of competitive events and tests during the day and a quiz and speech competition in the evening.
“It was great fun to compete against so many other talented young growers and I know we each put all our efforts into the competition,” says Ward.
“I’m really stoked to walk away with the top prize – I wasn’t expecting it at all as I was so impressed by the work everyone else was doing. It was definitely a close competition.”
President of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, Neil Trebilco, says the competition is an opportunity for young fruit growers to put themselves out there and showcase their talent.
“This has been another excellent demonstration of the talent we have here in the Bay of Plenty and the wider region including Northland. There are some tremendous opportunities in the fruit growing industry, and we are delighted that this group is taking advantage of them and also encouraging other young people to consider a career in this sector,” says Trebilco.
“Today’s competitors are a great example of young people who are passionate about the industry’s future and their role in it.
“It was fantastic to see so many local industries and organisations recognise this and come together to demonstrate their support for our future leaders,” he says.
Simon Bowker (28) from EHC Orchard Management, Te Puke, took second place and won $1000 cash, and Aaron Hokopaura (24) from Aongatete Coolstores Limited, Katikati, secured third place with a prize of $500 cash.
Reuben Wallis from Whangarei and Chris Clement, Courtenay McBride, Greg Brown and Samantha Mansell from Te Puke also competed.
Ward won a $1500 cash prize, and as a Young Grower of the Year finalist, he also won a one-day media and presentation course in Auckland and an all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch, where he will compete in the national Young Grower of the Year competition, on 12-13 August.
“I know that the national competition will be an even bigger challenge than this one, but I feel well prepared. To be honest I’m just looking forward to getting stuck in, doing my best and seeing what I can learn from the other competitors. Most of us work with different produce so it will be interesting to see which skills are the same and which are different,” says Ward.
