The Competition

The NZ Horticulture ITO and the RNZIH Education Trust are pleased to announce the forth year of the national horticultural competition the “Young Horticulturist of the Year” is to be held in 2008.

Concept

The concept is to create a competition that will generate interest, inspiration and acknowledgement to young horticulturists employed in the wider horticulture industry. Each of the 9 participants in the Grand Final will be selected by their representative sector competitions. Contact your sector group for more information on how to become involved.

The following statements outline specifically what the competition will achieve:

• A two-day finals event for young horticulturists to enhance their horticultural ability and acknowledge their skill and knowledge while working in the horticulture industry;

• To be used to promote horticulture as a career for persons wishing to enter the horticulture industry;

• To lift the profile of the horticulture industry as an exciting and rewarding occupation;

• To create a challenging and rewarding competition so that contestants can achieve outcomes beyond their expectations.

The Grand Final

The Grand Final this year will be a two-day event

Day 1: Thursday the 6th November 2008 - The AGMARDT Market Innovation Project presentations.

This year the AGMARDT Market Innovation Project is a compulsory activity within the NZ Horticulture ITO - Young Horticulturist of the Year 2008 Competition.

Finalists are required to attend a one day orientation workshop late in August and them prepare a 10 page marketing project over an 8 week period in their own time. They are then required to present their project to a group of judges on Thursday the 6th November.

Day 2: Friday 7th November 2008 - The Practical Activities (held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens) and Evening Session.

1. Practical Activities

Each finalist will answer a series of practical and oral questions relating to horticulture. All finalists will be expected to compete to generic practical questions as well as a specialist question from their sector of horticulture. There will also be a Hortisport event where all finalists race against each other to complete a number of practical activities. All oral and/or practical questions will be taken from subjects and skills equivalent to a national horticultural qualification.

2. Interviews

A panel of three judges will interview each finalist with a range of question relating to past experiences, education, interests, etc.

3. Computer Project

Finalists will be expected to complete a 90 minute computer based activity.

4. Evening Session

A semi-formal dineer will be held at the Floating Pavilion, Auckland City. During the evening finalists are required to give a 3 minute presentation on their current employment, hobbies, interest. In addition they will each give a 3 minute prepared speech. Our guest MC for the evening is sponsored by Treescape. Tickets for the dinner will be available for purchase from mid-September.