Skeltons extends cadet excellence awards to viticulturists

Conrad Kirk, described as a “talent” on Hawke’s Bay’s wine scene, is the inaugural recipient of Skeltons Excellence Award for viticulture.

Mr Kirk, a first year viticulture student at EIT, along with pipfruit cadet Excellence Award winners Epere (Eps) Epere and Shane Flynn, was presented his award at Skeltons’ annual function for its horticultural growers held on Monday 5 December in Hastings.

“We can see there is a bright future for the Hawke’s Bay horticulture and viticulture industries if the calibre of these students is any indication,” James Cropper, Skeltons Hawke’s Bay’s field manager told the assembled growers and suppliers.
“EIT tutors and their individual managers are full of praise for the commitment and enthusiasm they have shown to furthering their skills by studying, while at the same time excelling in their full-time hands-on roles. We can take heart that there are potential leaders coming through the ranks.”
Mr Kirk works at Morton Estate Vineyards’ Tantallon Vineyard in the Ngatarara Triangle grape growing region. He is a first year cadet but has successfully completed a number of year two papers.

With no previous industry experience but a good amount of life skills, Mr Kirk impressed his boss Peter Scott with his attitude and was taken on two years ago. “We saw that he had the ability for a solid career in viticulture and encouraged him to study so that he could progress within our company when the opportunities arose. He’s proving us right as he has quickly put his theory and practical learning together and will go far.”
In presenting this inaugural award, Mr Cropper said that Skeltons wanted to support the region’s viticulture industry and its desire to develop career paths for its participants. “We see our award as a small encouragement for those willing to study to improve their skills and career prospects. We want to support those who are prepared to make the effort to contribute to the industry.”
Eps Epere is another student who has shown a quiet determination to succeed. Winner of a Skeltons Excellence Award as a second year student in 2010, Mr Epere has since been promoted from supervisor to an assistant manager for Johnny Appleseed.
“He was selected for the position over both internal and external applicants and we believe that he will go further as he’s keen to take on more specialised courses of study,” says Tom Place, the manager Mr Epere has worked under full-time for the past nine years and casually for eight years prior.
Another “rising star” is Shane Flynn, who has completed the three-year fruit cadetship in two years. Employed by Chadwick Trust, an orchard in Farndon Road that is part of the Crasborn Group, Mr Flynn “most definitely shines” according to Lee Arlidge, Crasborn’s operations manager.

“He has enthusiasm to burn. He started out in the packhouse but we could see his potential and that we needed to keep things interesting for him so suggested he move into a position and study that had a career path,” says Mr Arlidge. “He’s already managing 50 hectares and staff. He’s absolutely committed to horticulture, which is fantastic.”
Skeltons, Farmlands Trading Society Limited’s horticultural specialists, has been presenting the annual awards for the past nine years.