BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association - ECPv6.6.4.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://hbfa.co.nz
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Pacific/Auckland
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1300
TZOFFSETTO:+1200
TZNAME:NZST
DTSTART:20260404T140000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1200
TZOFFSETTO:+1300
TZNAME:NZDT
DTSTART:20260926T140000
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260618
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260620
DTSTAMP:20260515T183330
CREATED:20241016T050421Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T082918Z
UID:2218-1781740800-1781913599@hbfa.co.nz
SUMMARY:Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition 2026
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”lg-pt”][vc_column]\n\n\n  \n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\n[vc_empty_space height=”40px”][vc_row_inner gap=”20″][vc_column_inner el_class=”pad-right-20-desk” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]The Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition is one of the region’s premier horticultural events\, celebrating the future leaders of our fruitgrowing industry. \nHeld across 18–19 June 2026\, competitors will take part in a range of practical and theoretical challenges designed to test their technical knowledge\, leadership\, communication skills and ability to perform under pressure. The competition provides a valuable opportunity for young people within the industry to challenge themselves\, grow their networks and showcase their skills on the regional stage. \nThe event culminates with the 2026 Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year Awards Dinner on Friday 19 June 2026 at Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre\, where the industry comes together to celebrate the achievements of this year’s contestants and announce the 2026 winner. \nTickets for the Awards Dinner are now on sale. Click here to purchase \nWe look forward to showcasing the talent\, innovation and passion shaping the future of Hawke’s Bay horticulture. \nMeet the 2026 contestants as they take on the challenge of becoming the next Hawke’s Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year. Learn more about each competitor\, their background\, and what drives their passion for the horticulture industry. \n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”pad-left-20-desk” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=””][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”lg-pt”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] \nCheck out the 2026 Contestants.\n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px”]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Maddi Sheridan\n                          Maddi Sheridan is the Quality and Compliance Manager – Growing at T&G Global\, a role she stepped into after returning from two years in Canada at the end of 2025. In her current position\, she supervises on-orchard QA teams during harvest\, oversees compliance including the GlobalGAP Audit\, and works to strengthen communication and understanding between orchard and packhouse operations. \nMaddi's journey into horticulture began during her studies at Massey University\, where a T&G scholarship sparked a passion for the industry that led her to change her degree to Horticultural Science. She joined T&G's tech team full-time in 2020 as a Supply and Quality Technician\, contributing to a range of technical projects\, and went on to co-develop a 2D Best Practice Scorecard to improve orchard accountability. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Horticultural Science. \nLooking ahead\, Maddi aims to deepen her expertise across the full apple supply chain from orchard to market\, with a particular focus on orchard operations. She is passionate about encouraging the next generation to see horticulture as a career worth choosing\, and takes pride in the role the industry plays in supporting communities across New Zealand and the Pacific. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Saffron Riley\n                          Saffron Riley is an Orchard Foreman at Mr Apple's Brookfields orchard\, a role she stepped into in early 2026 after progressing steadily through the ranks since joining the industry in 2021. In her current position\, she leads daily crew operations\, coordinates irrigation schedules\, manages labour allocation during harvest\, and oversees health and safety on the block. Her path to foreman is all the more notable given she made a deliberate career change from a qualified trade in hairdressing\, committing to formal horticultural study within her first two weeks on the job. \nSaffron holds Level 3 and 4 certificates in Horticulture Fruit Production from EIT\, completed with two scholarships\, and is currently studying towards a Level 4 qualification in Business and Administration through Open Polytechnic. Her five and a half years in the industry have taken her from orchard trainee to senior leading hand\, building expertise across tree training\, chemical application\, tractor operation\, irrigation maintenance\, and team supervision. \nLooking ahead\, Saffron wants to deepen her understanding of orchard budgeting\, export logistics\, and compliance\, applying her business studies to ensure operational success translates into a sustainable and profitable business model. As a mother working in the industry\, she is driven by a strong sense of purpose and a genuine commitment to helping future-proof the Hawke's Bay fruit sector for the next generation. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              William Horsefield\n                          William Horsefield is an Orchard Foreman at Ceed\, based in Waipawa\, where he has held a foreman role for three years following his progression from orchard hand to leading hand at Rockit Management Services. With seven years in the industry\, his day-to-day work spans machinery operation\, spraying\, basic maintenance\, stocktakes\, staff training\, and liaison with external suppliers. He is currently completing a Level 5 Diploma in Horticulture and has competed in the Young Fruit Grower competition twice before\, placing third on a previous occasion. \nWilliam holds Level 2 to 4 certificates in Horticulture\, along with a forklift F endorsement and Growsafe. He is a self-described trainer at heart\, actively finding ways to upskill the people around him and fostering a team culture where everyone's ideas and contributions are valued. Prior to joining RMS\, he spent two to three years as an orchard hand at Freshmax. \nLooking ahead\, William is focused on completing his diploma and continuing to grow as both a grower and a mentor. He is passionate about changing public perceptions of the industry and making sure people understand the depth and variety of career opportunities available in horticulture. Seeing the people he works with develop and grow is what keeps him motivated. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Joseph Stenberg\n                          Joseph Stenberg is a Block Lead at T&G Global\, where he has been involved in the development of a new orchard block\, drawing on his viticultural knowledge to transition effectively into orcharding. He has contributed to implementing organic growing principles into production and brings a practical\, hands-on approach to his work on the block.\nJoseph's background spans both the wine and fruit growing industries\, with four and a half years working in vineyards before making the move to T&G in 2025. \nHe holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Physiology and Wine Science\, a foundation that gives him a broad understanding of plant science and the relationship between nature\, growing conditions\, and production outcomes.\nLooking ahead\, Joseph aspires to grow into a leadership role as a growing operator and is keen to embrace new technology as it emerges in the sector. He is drawn to the science behind growing and the wide range of premium horticultural industries that make Hawke's Bay such a compelling place to build a career. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Maicha Slade\n                          Maicha Slade is a Key Machinery Operator at Apatu Farms\, where he has worked his way up from an entry-level position to a senior permanent role\, now serving as second in command within his sector. A standout contribution has been his involvement in developing the new 2D growing system alongside the division manager\, as well as mentoring younger staff coming through the ranks. He brings Samoan values of respect\, leadership and family to everything he does\, and takes genuine pride in being part of growing world-class apples in Hawke's Bay. \nMaicha is known for his energetic\, solutions-focused approach\, championing a work smart\, not just work hard culture within his team. His fresh thinking and people-first mindset drive continuous improvement on the block\, and he leads with the same family values instilled in him from a young age by his father\, who first introduced him to horticulture. He is currently working towards his Primary ITO qualification. \nLooking ahead\, Maicha is focused on progressing into a management role\, with the long-term goal of reaching a position like that of his current manager. For him\, it is about proving that hard work and determination pay off\, and building a career in horticulture that he and his family can be proud of. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Georgia McKinnon\n                          Georgia McKinnon is a Supply and Continuous Improvement Technician at T&G Global\, where she works across nursery tree quality management\, supports the rollout of the newly released Joli variety\, and drives continuous improvement practices across T&G Orchards. She also coordinates between orchards and post-harvest during the season to ensure fruit reaches the right destination in optimal condition. \nGeorgia's career in horticulture began through T&G's Graduate Programme\, where she gained hands-on experience across orchard management\, post-harvest\, shipping and operational planning\, marketing\, and the technical growing team. She went on to serve as Block Lead of a newly developed 11-hectare orchard\, taking responsibility for all on-orchard planning and decision-making\, and has contributed to maturity monitoring across approximately 600 hectares\, helping sector managers make well-timed harvest decisions. She holds a degree in Agribusiness and Food Marketing. \nLooking ahead\, Georgia is focused on deepening her expertise in orchard management\, supply chain processes\, and technical innovation. She is passionate about continuous improvement and wants to contribute to practical\, on-the-ground change that benefits both growers and the wider industry. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”lg-pb”][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Mary Arkell\n                          Mary Arkell is a 2IC at Taylor Corp in Hastings\, where she has built six years of hands-on experience across all core orchard operations. Her work spans pruning\, thinning\, harvesting\, canopy management\, pest and disease control\, and safe machinery operation. She brings high attention to detail and a natural ability to build strong\, positive team relationships in fast-paced seasonal environments. \nA key focus throughout Mary's career has been pursuing formal qualifications alongside her practical work\, completing Levels 2 through 4 in Horticulture\, along with Growsafe and First Aid. Applying that study directly in the orchard has strengthened her capability across core tasks and supported her growth in responsibility and contribution to team performance. \nLooking ahead\, Mary is focused on building on her qualifications and continuing to develop into a more advanced\, well-rounded grower. She is motivated by an industry where the results of hard work are visible\, and by the ongoing opportunities to learn and grow. The Young Fruit Grower competition is something she sees as a genuine investment in her own development and career progression. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”lg-pb”][vc_column]\n                \n          \n              \n          \n        \n          \n              Mikayla Franklin\n                          Mikayla Franklin is a Foreperson at Craigmore\, based in Central Hawke's Bay\, where she is responsible for managing staff and teams across a range of orchard operations including tree husbandry\, mowing\, and spraying. Her progression from casual orchard hand to leading hand to foreperson over five years reflects both her work ethic and her commitment to growing within the industry. \nMikayla holds Level 3 and 4 certificates in Horticulture\, along with Growsafe\, First Aid\, and Dale Carnegie qualifications. She leads with a hands-on style\, focused on finding more efficient ways of working and creating an environment where her team feels comfortable speaking up and contributing ideas. \nLooking ahead\, Mikayla is aiming to step into an Assistant Manager role and plans to complete a Level 5 Post Harvest qualification before starting a degree. Outside of work\, she is a mum to a nine-year-old daughter and enjoys road trips and getting outdoors together. She is entering the competition to challenge herself\, build her profile\, and represent her workplace. \n            \n\n\n[/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nPlatinum Sponsors\n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”md-pb”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1998″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.applesandpears.nz/”][vc_single_image image=”2001″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”1999″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2002″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2000″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”md-pt”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nPremium Sponsors\n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”md-pb”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”2007″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.pggwrightson.co.nz/”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”2004″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.summerfruitnz.co.nz/”][vc_single_image image=”2616″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.farmlands.co.nz/products_and_services/horticulture.html”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”2005″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.norwood.co.nz/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=9324202270&gbraid=0AAAAACfCjWvknZTcvHbApGKbzuIRWFh7y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeBGkg5H7r9XuMQvZflzRrCt0d36E_TWeOaV7I4euKWZ06IW6bkif2UaAlfcEALw_wcB”][vc_single_image image=”2025″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.kraftheinz.com/en-NZ/watties”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”2026″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://tandg.global/”][vc_single_image image=”2010″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”” link=”https://www.sprayshop.nz/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”md-pt”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nOur Partners\n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”lg-pb”][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2023″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2021″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2011″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2022″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2019″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2014″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2020″ img_size=”full” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2583″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_single_image image=”2018″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2529″ img_size=”full” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2017″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”2015″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”md-pt”][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nOur Supporters\n[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”lg-pb”][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2754″ img_size=”full” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2588″ img_size=”full” css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2028″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2027″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/5″][vc_single_image image=”2032″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://hbfa.co.nz/event/yfgoty-competition-2025/
LOCATION:Ranui Sports Field\, 600 Pakowhai Road\, Frimley\, Hastings\, 4120\, New Zealand
ORGANIZER;CN="Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association":MAILTO:yfoty@hbfa.co.nz
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR