Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition 

Finalists for the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition have been selected and will now compete in the Grand Finals in Auckland in November.

Annika Horgan has been chosen to represent Floriculture which includes the NZ Flower Growers Inc and Floristry NZ Inc. Annika has her own business as well as working part time for a florist in Wigram, Christchurch.

Andrew Scott has taken the title for Horticulture NZ. He is a process potato grower near Ashburton.

The Landscaping New Zealand title holder is Andrew Rae, a landscaper for Southern Landmarx, Queenstown. The Nursery and Garden finalist is Daniel Chong, a nursery person at Rainbow Trees in South Auckland. NZ Recreation Association-Amenity Horticulture finalist is Karl Noldan, a gardener at the Wellington Botanic Garden. The NZ Winegrowers have yet to choose a finalist.

On the 14^th of November the finalists will present their projects to a panel of 3 judges and the awards dinner will take place on the 15^th of November in Auckland.

The competition was launched in 2005 to acknowledge young achievers in the horticulture industry. It aims to identify young people with leadership capability, to foster insight into world class marketing, global supply chains, new products and new business models, to raise awareness of potential career paths in the horticulture industry and to encourage communication and appreciation of common interests between sector groups.

Partnering sponsors are AGMARDT, Fruitfed Supplies and Turners and Growers.

The winner will receive $7,500 worth of travel to experience their area of horticulture in another country as well as a number of sponsors’ products.