Massey Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards , Ā Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa tohu mō te Ahuwhenua, te Ahumāra, te Taiao me te Pūtaiao

Celebrating excellence in education and recognising our top-achieving students.

About the Awards

We recognise and celebrate students who have made a positive impact on their peers and shown commitment to their study and research.

The awards acknowledge Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, Animal Science, Environment Science, Earth Science and Horticultural Science students, with awards for excellence going to the top student in each qualification.

Each year since 1993 we have celebrated the best and brightest in the primary industries and as the number one university in New Zealand for agriculture, Massey continues to contribute to the strength of the sector.

Save the date for 2024

We look forward to seeing you at the Dinner at the Palmerston North Function and Conference Centre.

Date: Friday 11 October

Time: 6pm

Tickets

Student Tickets

All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students welcome and you can bring your friends. You can choose which sponsor table you would like to sit at – get to know your future employers.

Student tickets are $40.00 - this includes a two course buffet and drinks.

Sponsor/Massey Staff Tickets

Available to sponsors and Massey staff - $95.00.

Tickets for the 2024 Awards Dinner are sold out.

If you want to attend this year's dinner, please contact us to be placed on a waiting list for an available ticket.

The awards consist of 9 categories

Award categories

  • William Gerrish Memorial Award
    The William Gerrish Memorial Award will be presented for the 22nd year in 2023. This award is for outstanding performance in Farm Management. The award recipient must perform well academically and demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, intellectual curiosity, vision and social conscience.
  • Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture
    Award for students with the highest grade point average in Semester 1. For the most proficient first and second-year students, third-year Agricultural Science and third-year Horticulture students, prizes for first, second and third.
  • Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science
    For the most proficient third and second-year students, prizes for first, second and third.
  • Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science
    For the most proficient third-year student.
  • Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science
    For the most proficient third-year student.
  • NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student
    Award for overall excellence in agriculture or horticulture. The award includes a three-year membership to NZIAHS.
  • Student Leadership and Service Award
    The student who made the best contribution to the well-being and reputation of their fellow students, in the opinion of their peers and/or staff. The recipient is a well-rounded individual with the potential to become a leader and role model. They demonstrate leadership while displaying empathy, ethical conduct, mindfulness and cultural competence.
  • Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards
    Award for the students producing the best report for undergraduate work placement practicums over the summer. 119.150 Practicum I and 119.250 Practicum II.
  • Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award
    Award trophy for service to the Young Farmers Club.

Awards Dinner

Join us in celebrating excellence in agricultural education. Meet industry partners, Massey staff and students at the annual awards dinner.

This event is the highlight of our agricultural calendar, celebrating student academic success and Massey’s coveted position as New Zealand's number one university in agriculture. An essential fixture for industry and Massey’s best and brightest students.

All students, including 1st year, are encouraged to attend. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with the industry and establish career-long relationships.

Sponsor a table in 2024

The Awards Dinner is your chance to get in front of the leaders of tomorrow and catch up on the latest agricultural developments at Massey University. As a sponsor, you will gain additional exposure at this key industry event.

Pay for your table sponsorship by credit card

Award recipients

Each year we celebrate our best and brightest students. Congratulations to all award winners.

2024

William Gerrish Memorial Award

Winner: Yeun An

Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture

First-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)

First place: Katja Newberger

Second place: Jessica Huntington

Third place: Kate Morton

Second-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)

First place: Oliver Cayley

Second place: Jennifer Aylicia

Third place: Sulite Bao

Third-year students (Agriculture, Agribusiness)

First place: Katya De Silva

Second place: Yeun An

Third place: Rebecca Spindler

Third-year students (Horticulture)

First place: Brooke Challis

Second place: Rong Ting (Kayln) Tan

Third place: Elyssa Russell

Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science

Second-year students

First place: Nicola Walsh

Second place: Georgia Stephens

Third place: Hari Nair

Third-year students

First place: Jack Foster

Second place: Hannah Towgood

Third place: Dorothy Schmidlin Wilson

Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science

Winner: Kaiya Elmes

Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science

Winner: Arthur Wickham

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student

Winner: Benjamin Penno

Student Leadership and Service Award

Winner: Leith Anderson

Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards

Practicum 1 winner: Levi Jennings

Practicum 2 winner: Ashleigh Storey

Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award

Winner: Tegan Mitchell

Young Farmers Cutting Edge Award

Winner: Matthew Lever

2023

William Gerrish Memorial Award

Winner: Alyssa Hayes

Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture

First-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)

First place: Oliver Cayley

Second place: Vsevolod Chemeris

Third place: Jennifer Aylicia

Second-year students (Agriculture, Horticulture, Agribusiness)

First place: Katya de Silva

Second place: Kayln Tan

Third place: Rebecca Spindler

Third-year students (Agriculture, Agribusiness)

First place: Harriet Halewood

Second place: Maddison Roberts-Hubers

Third place: Sophie Rutherford

Third-year students (Horticulture)

First place: Harriet Barber

Second place: Tandia Molina

Third place: Wanda O'Meara

Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science

Second-year students

First place: Jack Foster

Second place: Dorothy Schmidlin Wilson

Third place: Leo Farrell

Third-year students

First place: Pippa Smyth

Second place: Hannah Fletcher

Third place: Ella Jones

Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science

Winner: Ilyse Bates

Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science

Winner: Stuart Dearlove

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student

Winner: Harriet Barber

Student Leadership and Service Award

Winner: Sarah Wilson

Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards

Practicum 1 winner: Matthew Coogan

Practicum 2 winner: Kathryn Olsen

Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award

Winner: Maggie White

2022

William Gerrish Memorial Award

Winner: Adam Honeyfield – Bachelor of Agribusiness

Massey University Award for Excellence in Agricultural Science and Horticulture

Agriculture 3rd-year students
  • First place: Erika Lilley – Bachelor of Agribusiness
  • Second place: Katie Ervine – Bachelor of Agribusiness
  • Third place: Monique Radford – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Horticulture 3rd-year students
  • First place: Lachlan Barrett
  • Second place: Isabella Ellmers
  • Third place: Emma Charleston
Agriculture and Horticulture 2nd-year students
  • First place (equal): Harriet Barber – Bachelor of Horticultural Science
  • First place (equal): Ye Un An – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
  • Third place: Maddison Roberts-Hubers – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Agriculture and Horticulture 1st-year students
  • First place (equal): Gemma Bayly – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
  • First place (equal): Katya de Silva – Bachelor of Agricultural Science
  • Third place: Sophie Johnston – Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Massey University Award for Excellence in Animal Science

Animal Science 3rd-year students
  • First place: Brooklynn Taylor
  • Second place: Sophie Stark
  • Third place: Kimberley Bergh
Animal Science 2nd-year students
  • First place: Pippa Smyth
  • Second place: Hannah Fletcher
  • Third place: Hannah Towgood

Massey University Award for Excellence in Environmental Science

Winner: Joanna Wood

Massey University Award for Excellence in Earth Science

Winner: Ingeborg Smythe

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student

Winner: Monique Radford

Student Leadership and Service Award

Winner: Fatima Imran

Agriculture and Horticulture Practicum Awards

Practicum I winner: Tessa Whale

Practicum II winner: Adam Honeyfield

Young Farmers Club Sally Hobson Award

Winner: Georgia Young

Our 2024 sponsors

The School of Agriculture and Environment thank the industry for their support.

Award sponsors

AgFirst logo

AgFirst

Sponsor of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Student Leadership & Service Award.

Learn more

Aviagen logo

Aviagen

Sponsor of the Excellence in Animal Science award for the most proficient 2nd year students.

Learn more

Beef + Lamb New Zealand logo

Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture award for the most proficient 3rd year agriculture students.

Learn more

Farm Source logo

FarmSource

Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture Award - Second year academic prize

Learn more

Horizons Regional Council Logo

Horizons Regional Council

Sponsor of the Excellence in Earth Science Award - Third-year academic prize

Learn more

LIC logo

LIC

Sponsor of the Excellence in Animal Science award for the most proficient 3rd year students.

Learn more

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science logo

New Zealand Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science (NZIAHS)

Sponsor of the NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science Leading Student award.

Learn more

Perrin Ag logo

Perrin Ag

Sponsor of the Agricultural Practicum and Horticultural Practicum I and II Awards.

Learn more

Ravensdown logo

Ravensdown

Sponsor of the Excellence in Agricultural and Horticulture award for the most proficient 1st year students.

Learn more

Zespri International Limited logo

Zespri

Sponsor of the Excellence in Agriculture and Horticulture award for the most proficient 3rd year horticulture students.

Learn more

Table sponsors

AgResearch

AgResearch is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. Its purpose is to enhance the value, productivity and profitability of New Zealand’s pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector value chains to contribute to economic growth and beneficial environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand.

Learn more

Agricom logo

Agricom

AsureQuality logo

AsureQuality

Aviagen logo

Aviagen

BakerAg logo

BakerAg

Barenbrug logo

Barenbrug

Beef + Lamb New Zealand logo

Beef + Lamb New Zealand

Corteva logo

Corteva Agriscience

Datamars Livestock logo

Datamars Livestock

Ellett Agricultural Research Trust

Farm Focus

Farmlands Co-operative

Farm Source logo

FarmSource

Horizons Regional Council Logo

Horizons Regional Council

Sponsor of the Excellence in Earth Science Award - Third-year academic prize

Learn more

Horticulture NZ logo

Horticulture New Zealand

Massey University Foundation

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science logo

New Zealand Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science (NZIAHS)

Perrin Ag logo

Perrin Ag

Sponsor of the Agricultural Practicum and Horticultural Practicum I and II Awards.

Learn more

Logo for Pioneer Brands Products

Pioneer Brand Products

Ravensdown logo

Ravensdown

Watties Agriculture

School of Agriculture and Environment – Te Kura Mātauranga mō Ahuwhenua me

The School of Agriculture and Environment offers internationally recognised teaching and research. It aims to develop a balance between social, environmental and economic outcomes for production and sustainability.

News

School of Agriculture and Environment celebrates successful students within top ranked programmes

The School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards Dinner last week.

Massey’s top land-related science students celebrated

Massey’s School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Science Awards Dinner.

Massey announces top agricultural students

Prizes have been announced for the undergraduate agricultural and horticultural students who have excelled in the past year.

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Agriculture awards showcase Massey’s finest

Massey University's rising stars have been named at the 26th annual Agriculture Awards Dinner in Palmerston North.

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Top agriculture student shares secret of success

Bachelor of AgriCommerce student James Robertson is your classic jack of all trades, but rather than mastering none, he excelled in everything he put his hand up for.

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Agriculture’s leading students celebrated

Massey's School of Agriculture and Environment has named its top students of the year at their annual Agriculture Awards Dinner.

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Swapping the cycle track for the farm track

Reliable, compassionate, dedicated and supportive - these are the words fellow students have used to describe third-year Bachelor of AgriScience student Kate Stewart.

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Top students celebrated at Agriculture Awards Dinner

Over 250 people gathered at Massey University's Sport and Rugby Institute on Friday night for the Agriculture Awards Dinner.

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Contact us

Contact us from June 2024 to sponsor the awards or discuss the awards dinner.

Dawn Manaton

Event Manager
Dr Sarah Golding

Dr Sarah Golding

Communications and Engagement Advisor