25 years on - where are they now?
To celebrate 25 years of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, Ravensdown caught up with past recipients to see where their careers have taken them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Three candidates are vying for a South Island seat on the board of fertiliser co-operative Ravensdown.
Simon Davies, Jane Montgomery and Aaron Stark filed their nominations last week. An election will be held under the first past the post electoral system, by postal and internet voting.
Voter packs will be posted out to South Island Area shareholders this Friday. Voting ends on September 22.
For the North Island seat, only one nomination was filed: sitting director Mike Davey will serve another term.
Meanwhile Ravensdown has appointed Tony Carter to its board. Ravensdown chair Bruce Wills says Carter is one of New Zealand's most experienced governors, known for his strategic leadership.
"With his extensive governance experience and commercial acumen across a broad range of sectors, Tony brings deep wisdom and foresight that will complement the existing collective skillset of the Ravensdown board.
"Importantly, he also has a real passion and understanding of co-operatives, having led Foodstuffs as chief executive and managing director for 10 years before embarking on his governance career."
Carter says it was the co-operative element that initially drew him to the role, but he's also looking forward to his first directorship in a primary sector organisation.
"Agriculture is such an integral part of New Zealand, from both an economic and cultural perspective.
"I'm excited to be joining the Ravensdown board and having an opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes for New Zealand farmers and growers."
Carter is currently chairman of New Zealand-owned technology business Datacom Group, My Food Bag, TR Group, The Interiors Group and the Skin Institute.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.