The 2013 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower Competition is something any young person in the industry should try, says last year's winner Joel Wanhill.

Joel Wanhill on a cherry picker at last year's competition at Baypark.

'It is an awesome competition that I would thoroughly recommend,” says Joel – who went on to represent the region at the national finals in Auckland.

Entries for this year's contest in Mount Maunganui on June 26 close at 4pm on Friday, May 31.

Competitors will showcase their leadership and innovation skills through horticultural-related theoretical and practical tasks during the day-long event and a speech competition during the awards and gala dinner in the evening.

The winner receives $1500 in cash and automatic entry into the NZ Young Fruit Grower Contest at the HortNZ Conference in July.

Second place receives $1000 and $500 for third.

The event attracts hundreds of Bay of Plenty residents from within the horticulture industry and this year New Zealand's Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy is the guest speaker at the dinner.

Joel says taking part in both contests was a great experience and encouragers others to try.

'Taking on the different tasks that were set was a good way to test my knowledge of all things to do with growing and managing a crop, from tractors to computers.

'It also showed me what I need to brush up on. We also had to come up with an innovative idea, which I enjoyed as I had never before thought about coming up with an idea to benefit the industry.”

His experiences demonstrate people in the industry really value up and coming young growers, he says.

To enter the awards go to www.nzkgi.org.nz