There were mixed emotions for Māpua-based Amelia Marsden after finishing third at the 2026 Young Grower of the Year nationals in Cromwell in August.
Amelia represented the Nelson region on the national stage, claiming third spot out of seven contestants for the second year-in-a-row, after securing the Nelson title in June.
“It would have been nice to go a bit better, but I’m still super happy with third place. It’s a high calibre of contestants so coming away with third is still a great result,” Amelia concedes.
“I think the calibre of contestants this year was particularly high, especially when I look at some of the results I got back.”
James Blair from Pukekohe won the coveted 2026 Young Grower national title, with Canterbury’s Amber Davy second.
According to Amelia, being involved with Young Grower of the Year is not only about the competition, but it is also a great way to build industry networks.
Winning the Leadership Award for her performance on day two earned Amelia a place on the Horticulture New Zealand leadership rural leaders programme next year.
“That will be a huge leg up as well in terms of personal development,” Amelia admits.
While securing the Nelson regional title in June for the second time enabled her to attend large industry events like the Horticulture New Zealand and New Zealand Apples and Pears conferences.
“It puts you in the room with a lot of industry professionals that you mightn’t get to interact with on a daily basis, so the networking side of things is pretty invaluable,” Amelia says.
The event put contestants through their paces for two days.
On the first day contestants were tested across seven modules including tractor driving, technical knowledge of fertiliser, biosecurity and pest management, to challenge their vegetable and fruit-growing knowledge and skills.
On day two Amelia excelled, with a facilitator asking questions and an industry leadership panel evaluating responses. There was also a speech component.
“The competition itself exposes you to a lot of things you don’t get to do in your everyday job, so it does show you where your strengths and weaknesses lie,” Amelia explains.
Amelia, who hails from the West Coast originally, has a background in dairy farming, before switching from agriculture to horticulture seven years ago, due to injury.
That is when Amelia moved to Tasman.
“I didn’t know how I was going to find it,” Amelia admits.
“I certainly didn’t see myself still being in the region, I sort of saw it as I needed a job at first, but once I got stuck into it I really enjoyed it, so here I am.”
While at the ripe old age of 30 Amelia is still eligible to enter the Young Grower of the Year competition next year, she thinks she might “tap out now” and focus on NZ Young Farmers’ regionals.
Amelia, a nursery manager at Thomas Brothers Orchard in Riwaka, is loving the job she started earlier this year.
“Everyone’s been really supportive and encouraging, and I’ve felt very welcome from the start,” she says.
“I’m enjoying getting stuck into the role, learning plenty along the way and seeing where it takes me.”
