Friday, 22 July 2022 14:33

Laura Schultz named 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year

Written by  Staff Reporters
Kiritapu Allan with 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year Laura Schultz. Kiritapu Allan with 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year Laura Schultz.

It was the women who dominated at the 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year competition earlier this week, taking out first, second and third place.

Laura Schultz from Trevelyans was named the first place winner, taking home a prize package which includes an all-expenses paid trip to Wellington to compete for the National Young Grower of the Year title as well as $1,500 cash.

The competition took place on 20 July at Mount Maunganui College, where eight competitors tested their skills and ability to run a successful horticulture business in a series of challenges. These were followed by a speech competition titled ‘What I’ll be growing in 2050’, at a gala dinner.

Schultz excelled in the individual challenges, and impressed judges with her speech on providing the best quality produce by adapting to climate change to grow crops which meet the changing environment.

Yanika Reiter came in second place, while Emily Woods was third.

Schultz grew up on her family orchard in the Bay of Plenty. After a diverse career across different countries that has included studying fashion design, yoga instruction, and working as a snowboard instructor, she returned home three years ago and realised her interest lay in growing avocados.

Since then, she ha leased the family orchard and now takes full responsibility for it, alongside her work with the avocado improvement group at Trevelyans.

Erin Atkinson, chair of BOP Young Growers says this year’s contestants were outstanding.

“This year’s BOP Young Grower contestants have shown the great talent we already have within our horticulture industry,” Atkinson says.

“The competition has been perfect to test their knowledge and I hope that it sets the bar for other young talent coming through our industry.”

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. (NZKGI) chief executive Colin Bond says that competitions like the Young Grower of the Year show appreciation for the need for skilled careers in the horticulture industry.

“As a horticulture industry, we can focus on knee-jerk reactions required for the current season. But in order to continue to produce effectively into the future, we need to ensure we have young people with the right commercial, technical and scientific skills.

“The 2022 BOP Young Grower competition is a great way to celebrate the high calibre of people coming through the industry to make us future fit.”

More like this

Consider a career in hort

OPINION: As the fourth generation of my family working in horticulture, I’m proud to be continuing the legacy and honoured to do so carrying the current title of the Young Grower of the Year 2024.

A Taylor-made winner!

A combination of on farm skills and hometown advantage got Taylor Leabourn over the line at the 2023 Young Grower national title in Pukekohe, last month.

Comp showcases future of hort

The Bay of Plenty region is set to witness the talent and dedication of its young horticulturists as they gather for the Bay of Plenty Young Grower competition and Gala Dinner.

Featured

Let the games begin!

New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.

The future of beef breeding

Progeny testing at Pāmu’s Kepler farm in Southland as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme is showing that the benefits of hybrid vigour could have a massive impact on the future of beef breeding.

Editorial: GMO furore

OPINION: Submissions on the Government's contentious Gene Technology Bill have closed.

Chilled cow cuts enter China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports into China following approval of its Levin and Mataura plants to supply that market. With its first load of beef from Levin clearing Chinese customs in early January and a shipment from Mataura recently arriving in China, journalist Leo Argent talked to Alliance general manager safety and processing Wayne Shaw.

National

Massive bounce back

The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith, says the growth in the kiwifruit sector is a massive bounce back.

$8b export milestone

Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg says she takes her hat off to all NZ growers for the hard yards they have…

Machinery & Products

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Sacrificed?

OPINION: Henry Dimbleby, author of the UK's Food Strategy, recently told the BBC: "Meat production is about 85% of our…

Entitled much?

OPINION: For the last few weeks, we've witnessed a parade of complaints about New Zealand's school lunch program: 'It's arriving…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter