Leon Stallard has been awarded Life Membership at the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association AGM held on Thursday night at the Toitoi Arts and Events Center.
This award recognises the outstanding commitment and dedication to the local horticulture industry. Since the inception of the Association in 1899 Life Membership has only been awarded 26 times.
Leon has dedicated an enormous number of hours to the industry over the past 23 years.
President of the Association from 2005-2014, Leon has been Chair and later a trustee of the HBFA Charitable Trust since 2005 and continues to serve on the board of Trustees today. He established the Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year competition in 2005 which was the catalyst for the launch of the highly successful National competition that is now governed by Horticulture New Zealand. He served as a director on the board of Horticulture New Zealand from 2014 – 2020.
In addition, our recipient was presented with the Hawke’s Bay Horticulturalist of the Year Award in 2019, the Hastings District Council Civic Honour Award for Voluntary Community Service in the field of Education and Youth Development within the Horticultural Sector – 2019 and was a Medallist in the NZ Local Hero of the Year Award 2020.
He freely gives his time to many organisations and importantly to many young leaders seeking advice and support.
