Young Grower national title goes to Hawke’s Bay horticulturist

Grace Fulford from Hawke's Bay won the 2024 Horticulture NZ Young Grower national title this week. Gisborne's regional winner Pip Terekia won the speech competition held as part of the final.

Hawke’s Bay horticulturist Grace Fulford won the 2024 Young Grower national title in her home town this week.

The quality and compliance manager for T&G Global qualified for the final after winning the Hawke’s Bay regional title.

She competed against five other regional winners, including Gisborne’s Pip Terekia - a trainee orchard manager with Apata Group.

The finalists took part in a series of challenges at the Tōmoana Showgrounds in Hastings on Wednesday.

The runner-up was Pukekohe regional winner Jamie Wells - an agronomist with Balle Brothers.

Horticulture NZ said the aim of the competition was to celebrate the success of young people in the industry and encourage others to consider a career in horticulture.

The six finalists competed a series of practical and theoretical horticulture modules testing their vegetable and fruit-growing knowledge, and skills needed to be successful growers.

These included excavator operation, nutrition and fertigation, innovation, integrated pest management, agrichemical stewardship, horticulture biosecurity, and fencing and repairs.

Terekia won the speech competition held at the gala dinner awards function at Toitoi Events Centre in Hastings on Thursday night.