Presidents report June
Future Leaders Shine at 2026 Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower Competition
The future of Hawke’s Bay horticulture is in good hands. Last week, the region’s premier horticultural talent gathered for the 22nd annual Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year competition. Held over two action-packed days (18–19 June), eight outstanding contestants under the age of 30 went head-to-head to showcase their technical knowledge, operational skills and leadership capabilities. Contestants representing Mr Apple, T&G Global, Ceed, Taylor Corp, Apatu Farms, and Craigmore were tested on their practical and theoretical knowledge of horticulture. The following day, they come together to form the Leadership Panel. This part of the competition tested communication and strategic thinking under pressure. Each contestant delivered a two-minute speech on a given topic and then answered an impromptu, industry-relevant question asked by the facilitator. The floor was then opened to the audience for further questions.
The Gala Dinner
The competition ended with the HBFA Awards Gala Dinner at the Toitoi events centre. Around 250 industry leaders, sponsors, supporters, and dignitaries packed the room to celebrate the finale of the competition. The main event of the night was the speech contest, which was the final test for the competitors. Contestants gave a three-minute speech on a specific industry topic they had prepared for in advance. They were judged on their public speaking ability, content, presentation, and delivery. The night concluded with the announcement of all the station winners, leading into the crowning of the overall Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year.
🏆 1st Place Overall: Maddi Sheridan: Quality and Compliance Manager of Growing at T&G Global.
🥈 2nd Place: Joseph Stenberg: Block Lead/Assistant Manager at T&G Global.
🥉 3rd Place (Historic Tie): For the first time in the competition’s history, third place was shared jointly by Saffron Riley (Mr Apple’s Brookfields Orchard) and William Horsefield (Orchard Foreman at Ceed)
A big shout out to the remaining contestants Mikayla Franklin (Craigmore), Mary Arkell (Taylor Corp), Georgia McKinnon (T&G Global), and Maicha Slade (Apatu Farms).
By claiming the regional title, Maddi Sheridan goes on to represent Hawke’s Bay at the National – Horticulture New Zealand Young Grower of the Year Grand Final. She will go up against all the other regional winners in Cromwell on 27–28 August 2026.
Hawke’s Bay’s is positioned as a region that invests into young emerging talent. This strength is highlighted by the fact that every winner of the National Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award has come from our region. Hawke’s Bay orchard supervisor Te Rina Joe (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu) was named the winner of the 2026 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award last month in Whangārei – recognising her outstanding achievements and leadership in New Zealand’s horticulture sector. I was up there attending the event and was extremely proud to see Te Rina win the award.
As all our regions young growers’ step into the future, our sector can be rest assured that Hawke’s Bay’s future is in good hands.
A massive thank you goes out to Bex from Planit events and all the executives from the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association who give of their time and resources throughout the year for the good of our industry. A thankyou to all our sponsors who contribute so generously to our events making it possible to put on.
Ngā mihi nui,
Brydon Nisbet
President Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association
