Young growers to vie for NZ title in Napier

NZ's top horticulturists will be showing their skills in Napier at Young Grower of the Year.

New Zealand's top young fruit and vegetable growers will compete for the title of Young Grower of the Year in Napier on Wednesday, August 22.

Seven finalists — the most the competition has ever seen — will go head-to-head at venues along the Napier waterfront.

They will face a range of practical and theoretical challenges designed to test their knowledge and skills around running a successful growing business.

This year's Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower — Lisa Arnold, orchard operations assistant at Bostock New Zealand — will compete.

During the day, finalists will rotate through four business and four practical activities.

In the afternoon, they will take part in the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Leadership Panel to give their views on a contemporary leadership issue. Spectators are welcome to attend all events.

The final test will be delivering a speech in front of the judges at an awards dinner.
For those who cannot attend, both the panel and speeches will be live-streamed on the Horticulture New Zealand YouTube channel.

The competition's practical modules will take place at the Sound Shell, Marine Pde, while the business modules, leadership panel and awards dinner will be held at the Napier Conference Centre.

* For tickets for the evening awards dinner, visit eventspronto.co.nz.