KVH was proud to be part of both the Bay of Plenty and Nelson Young Grower of the Year competitions held recently, helping put competitors’ biosecurity knowledge and practical skills to the test.

In Nelson, we partnered with Farmlands to deliver the biosecurity module – thank you to the Farmlands team for their support.

Designed to reflect real orchard situations, the modules challenged contestants to think on their feet and demonstrate how they would respond to potential biosecurity threats. The high standard of competition was encouraging, with participants showing strong practical knowledge and a clear understanding of the role biosecurity plays in protecting not only the kiwifruit industry, but New Zealand’s wider horticultural sector.

Congratulations to the Bay of Plenty biosecurity module winner, Danyon Robertson, and to Nelson module winner, Samual Lee.

Congratulations also to William Kenna, Orchard and Innovation Lead at KWKiwi, who was named the Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year, and Amelia Marsden, Nursery Manager at Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, who claimed the Nelson title for the second consecutive year. Both will now compete against six other regional champions at the National Young Grower of the Year competition in late August, where KVH will once again be putting finalists through their paces with a biosecurity challenge.

It's always encouraging to see the commitment and biosecurity awareness shown by the next generation of horticultural leaders. Events like these play an important role in developing the knowledge and skills needed to help safeguard our industries into the future.

See images from the events here.