Friday, 02 August 2024 07:55

Best young plant producer in the country!

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Young plant producer 2024 Anna England.

Anna England from Elliot’s Wholesale Nursery in Amberley has been named as the 2024 Young Plant Producer of the Year.

The award, presented recently at a dinner in Christchurch, was reward for England’s dedication and innovation in the plant production industry.

The Young Plant Producer event tested competitors on the skills needed to run a successful plant production. It is organised by NZ Plant Producers (NZPPI), hosted by IPPS (International Plant Propagators’ Society) and supported by the Horticentre Charitable Trust.

The four finalists undertook two days of challenges at Lincoln University, where they were tested on their skills in finance and dispatch, biosecurity, plant propagation and identification, tool maintenance, agrichemical use and irrigation.

The judges looked for individuals who could make a difference in the industry, going beyond great skills to also include leadership, attitude and personality.

England is sales coordinator at Elliott’s Wholesale Nursery. Along with her trophy, she has won a 12-month programme of mentorship support plus a $3000 fund to advance her career in plant production. She will also take part in the Young Horticulturalist of the Year award in November where she will compete against finalists from the entire horticulture sector, vying for a prize pool worth more than $20,000.

England moved to Christchurch from Taranaki four years ago to study horticulture at Lincoln University then joined the team at Elliot’s in a role she loves as it “offers with both incredible plants and fantastic people”.

“My time in horticulture so far has been a rewarding journey, and I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive industry. I saw the young plant producer competition as an opportunity to challenge myself to develop new skills and knowledge, as well as a great chance to meet other inspired people who are committed to the industry.”

The Young Plant Producer 2024 runners up were:

Ellen Ballantine, Team Lead R&D Operations of vegetable breeding company, Enza Zaden in Puni, Auckland
Johannes Andresen, despatch manager and sales at Tharfield Nursery in Katikati
Jessica Jack, nursery production worker at Kerikeri Plant Production in Kerikeri.

Featured

James Allen Named Life Member of Rural Professionals Body

Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.

Rural Vote Debate on Q&A: Substance or Just Platitudes?

It was billed as a chance for all the political parties to woo the rural vote, but question marks hang over just how effective this was.

Susan O'Regan Appointed New Chair of QEII National Trust

Minister of Conservation Hon Tama Potaka has appointed Susan O'Regan as Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) for a three-year term.

Red Meat Farmers Welcome Labour's Emissions Pricing Pledge

Red meat farmers are welcoming Labour’s plan to review the Emissions Trading Scheme and not to campaign on pricing agricultural emissions.

NZKGI Responds to Migrant Worker Exploitation Reports

Where any worker in the kiwifruit industry is mistreated, we expect the authorities to take action.

Arable ROI Crisis: Why Canterbury Farmers Are Moving On

Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers arable chair, Bevan Lill, said Beef + Lamb NZ data indicated that for the last six years, the average arable return on investment was about 0.8% while inflation ran about 4% - so the average arable farm was going backwards at about 3% a year.