Annabel Bulk from Felton Road Wines in Bannockburn, Central Otago has been declared New Zealand’s Young Horticulturist of the Year 2018 Winner.
Annabel is also the winner of the Young Viticulturist of the Year, representing NZ Wine.
Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust Chairperson, Elle Anderson, said the strength and diversity of New Zealand’s horticulture industry was apparent in the strong showing from all of the finalists this year.
“It doesn’t matter if you love landscaping, fruit and vegetable production, viticulture or working with flowers. It doesn’t matter if you want to be out helping customers in a nursery, out in the open maintaining a public park or inside a laboratory – horticulture has a place for you.
“Once again I am simply blown away by the calibre of tomorrow’s leaders we’ve seen on display during this competition. The future of our industry is in very good hands,” Anderson said.
This year the finalists competed for a prize pool of over $55,000.
1st Place
In taking home the ‘Young Horticulturist of the Year’ title, Annabel Bulk receives a $7,500 Fruitfed Supplies travel and accommodation package to a horticultural destination of her choice, a $3,500 Riversun Nursery scholarship, $1,000 worth of ICL Specialty Fertiliser products, a $100 NZ Horticultural magazine subscription for one year and a selection of Aorangi Merchant pruning tools.
The AGMARDT Market Innovation Project Winner: Danni van der Heijden
Danni wins the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) Market Innovation Project prize for her satellite imagery project to improve crop estimation in the avocado industry.
This challenge is designed to stretch contestants’ abilities to innovate, develop sound business models and add value to the industry, and the winner comes away with a $5,000 cash prize.
For more information and other prize winners please go to: www.younghort.co.nz
