The Bay of Plenty Young Grower competition, now in its 17th year, continues to bring attention to and recognise the emerging leaders in the horticulture sector. This year’s event took place over a full day, with contestants demonstrating their skills through nine practical and theoretical tasks, concluding with a speech competition, where Lilah Rosenfeldt, a 26-year-old trials specialist at Zespri, was crowned the 2024 Bay of Plenty Young Grower.

This year Instep was a sponsor of the event as well as offering the opportunity to the Instep Young Leaders to attend as part of the Young Leaders programme. Instep ensures that young leaders have the opportunity to learn from young professionals who are succeeding in horticulture. These events not only celebrate the achievements of young growers but also inspire and equip our young leaders with the skills and connections necessary to thrive in the industry.

Lilah particularly impressed the judges by winning the Horticentre Agrichemical Safety Award and the Holland Beckett Speech Competition, where she spoke on how Gen Z values can unlock new levels of profitability in the horticulture sector.

“The day was really good,” Lilah said. “I had a lot of fun completing all of the different tasks.”

Lilah has been immersed in the kiwifruit industry for around seven years, with three of those years spent as an orchard manager. Now a trials specialist at Zespri, she focuses on research and conducting trials on kiwifruit orchards. This was her second time competing in the Young Grower competition, having previously participated in Gisborne when she was 22. Her motivation for entering again was to learn new skills and connect with others who share her passion for horticulture.

The competition’s runner-up, Jack Canham, showcased his talent by winning four of the ten tasks, while third place went to Levi Horton. Erin Atkinson, chairperson of the Young Grower Bay of Plenty Upskilling Committee, noted the high calibre of this year’s contestants: “They are knowledge seekers, and extremely ambitious, which gives us the confidence that we are in safe hands heading into the future.” Atkinson emphasised the importance of the Young Grower events for the industry’s future. “The events help to connect people and mentor them through the next step of their careers – challenging them to think of the big picture.”

Reflecting on the Bay of Plenty Young Growers Gala night, several key takeaways emerged from the Young Leaders. Tim considered the importance of learning from mistakes, emphasising that new mistakes lead to new learning and innovative solutions. Shavonne commented on the undeniable importance to create connections, speak your mind, and share your own thoughts in order to adapt to our ever changing world, and added a lighthearted mention that “Mel is slay.” Jules key takeaway was the importance of putting yourself out there and giving everything a go, which was something we saw from all of the competitors. Eva expressed gratitude for the enlightening experience, which opened her eyes to a new side of horticulture. Overall, the night was filled with valuable insights and a sense of community.