Join the action on Wednesday July 19
Christchurch-based NZPPI members, partners, supporters plus horticulture students and Lincoln staff are warmly welcome to watch one of the challenge days of the Young Plant Producer competition later this month.
The event is being held at Lincoln University on Tuesday July 18 and Wednesday July 19 followed by the awards dinner on Wednesday night (tickets required) where the finalists will present their speeches before judges deliberate then announce the winner.
Spectators are welcome to watch the Wednesday challenges, which include plant propagation, weed identification, agrichemical spraying, tool maintenance and irrigation. The action will be from 9am to 3pm at the Plant Nursery Space at Lincoln University.
The 2023 finalists are:
• August Von Reiche, Helius Therapeutics
• Cameron Hay, Ardmore Nurseries
• Jake Linklater, Nova Natives
• Ellen Ballantine, Enza Zaden
• Lydia O’Dowd, Southern Woods
The competition, organised by NZPPI, hosted by IPPS and supported by the Horticentre Charitable Trust and Lincoln University, tests competitors on the skills needed to run a successful plant production business.
The finalists receive an invaluable boost of experience, industry insight and mentorship, plus the chance to win a $4000 fund to advance their career. The winner also gains automatic entry to the Young Horticulturalist of the Year award.
“The Young Plant Producer competition showcases our industry’s most talented young horticulturists. We’re proud to support the development of our industry’s future leaders and see them putting their knowledge and skills to the test,” said NZPPI People Capability Advisor Alice Schofield.
“Every year the standard increases and we’re looking forward to seeing who among our five competitors takes home the winning trophy.”
NZPPI thanks all the event supporters and sponsors, which also include Stihl, Irrigation NZ, Growsafe, Egmont Commercial, Waterforce, Intelligro, Kiwiflora, Noble-Adams, Vibrant Earth, Native Garden Nursery and Southern Woods.
For more information visit the Young Plant Producer website or contact Alice on alice@nzppi.co.nz.
............
The plant production industry’s Young Achiever of the Year competition is now titled Young Plant Producer of the Year to better reflect our industry.
In 2022, NZ Plant Producers and International Plant Propagators Society hosted the competition at Lincoln University for the first time and will be held there again in 2023, on July 18 and 19.
Young Plant Producer challenges young plant producers on technical, business and public speaking skills. Contestants received an invaluable boost of experience, industry insight and mentorship, plus the chance to win a $4000 fund to advance their career.
The winner also gains automatic entry to the Young Horticulturist of the Year award where they will compete against finalists from the entire horticulture sector, vying for a prize pool worth more than $20,000.
Applicants must:
- Be working full time in the nursery and garden industry
- Be 30 years of age or younger as at 31 December 2023
- Show evidence of completing three years’ practical work experience in the nursery and garden industry
- If selected, Be available for the event in Christchurch on July 18th & 19th 2023
- Be available to compete in the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in Auckland in November.
If you would like to know more or apply for the Young Plant Producer of the Year competition head over to the website here