INDUSTRY NEWS
Introducing Young Horties
A NEW group has been established for young people working in horticulture. Young Horties aims to provide networking and professional development opportunities. Kellie Hollingworth asked founders Emily Hoang and Ebony Faichney more about the group and their plans for the coming year.
Q. What prompted you to establish Young Horties?
Ebony and I first crossed paths during the NFF National Agricultural Leadership Program, where we began discussing the importance of connecting young professionals in the horticulture sector. We both recognised a gap in the industry and decided to establish Young Horties— a platform designed to connect, support, and advocate for the next generation of horticulture leaders. The committee was formed to provide people aged 40 and under, who are working in or connected to the horticulture industry, with access to relevant professional development opportunities and a strong network spanning all corners of the sector.
Q. How long have you been involved in the horticulture industry?
Emily’ s journey in the horticulture industry began at just seven years old, helping her dad at the Brisbane Markets during school holidays. This early exposure gave her a unique insight into the supply chain— from building relationships with growers to selling fresh produce and seeing it reach supermarket shelves. That experience sparked her interest in agriculture and inspired her to pursue an undergraduate degree. She is now in her final year at the University of Queensland, studying a Bachelor of Agribusiness. Along the way, Emily has gained hands-on experience working with farming businesses such as Montague and Mulgowie Farming and is currently working with the National Farmers’ Federation. Ebony lives and breathes everything horticulture in Far North Queensland. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Farmour, a consulting company dedicated to putting farmers first, delivering impactful industry development projects and advocacy work for the Australian horticulture sector. Ebony studied a Bachelor of Science but soon found her passion in extension and supporting farmers. Her career has grown quickly with a range of industryfacing roles with the QLD Department of Primary Industries, Citrus Australia and the Australian Mango Industry Association. Passionate about practical solutions and grower-driven outcomes, Ebony continues to drive impactful change in Australian horticulture.
Q. Who is eligible to be part of your group? Young professionals aged 40 and under, who are working
Young Horties founders Emily Hoang and Ebony Faichney.
in or connected to the horticulture industry, with access to relevant professional development opportunities and a strong network spanning all corners of the sector.
Q. How much interest has there been in Young Horties since it was first proposed?
We’ ve received strong interest from young professionals and widespread support across the industry since the launch of Young Horties. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with engagement coming from across the country— exactly what we hoped for, as our goal was to create a national platform for collaboration. Our committee brings together a diverse group of members, including farm managers, agronomists, extension officers, and quality assurance officers, all united by a shared passion for horticulture.
Q. What are your plans for this group in the coming year?
An evening with Professor Patrick Brown, a plant nutrition expert from UC Davis is being held in Loxton on June 26. He’ ll be talking about his career journey and some of the important lessons he’ s learnt along the way. A welcome drink and shared appetisers are being provided by Omnia Specialties Australia. Main meals will be available for attendees to purchase on the night. To register click here. We also have a monthly online webinar series called‘ Lunch with a Legend’. This started in May and the first guest was Jonathon Davey, CEO of Melons Australia.
Q. How can people find out more about Young Horties?
You can connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram at Young Horties. We also run a WhatsApp chat where we share upcoming horticultural events and dive into hot topics in the industry. Send us a message if you’ d like to join the conversation!
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