Wallace potato grower Xavier Toohey named Young Grower of the Year

A potato grower from Victoria has been named this year’s Young Grower of the Year at the Hort Connections awards.

Potato grower Xavier Toohey has been named Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year.

Victorian potato grower Xavier Toohey has been named Young Grower of the Year at the Hort Connections 2021 national awards for excellence.

It is the second young farming award the Wallace farmer, 36, has received this year.

He was named Corteva Agriscience Young Grower of the Year last night and received the 2021 AusVeg Young Grower award earlier in the year.

Mr Toohey said he was honoured and “very surprised” when he heard about the win.

“I would have had a beer in my hand if I knew I had of won,” he said.

“To be recognised for your hard work it means that it is all worthwhile.”

He said he would continue building on the momentum of the recognition and increase production at his farm.

“I don’t see us going back a gear, let’s put it that way,” he said.

AusVeg chief executive James Whiteside said Mr Toohey was a worthy winner and a perfect industry ambassador.

“Xavier is a deeply passionate potato grower who has demonstrated significant skill and acumen to grow his business to increase the scale of his potato production, which has added flow-on benefits to the local community.”.

The other winners at last night's awards were:

• Andrew and David Moon, Queensland — Syngenta Grower of the Year
• Catherine Velisha, Victoria — Boomaroo Nurseries Women in Horticulture Award
• Steven Moffatt, Queensland — Hort Innovation Exporter of the Year
• Dr Jenny Ekman, NSW — Bayer Researcher of the Year
• East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days (EGVID), Victoria — Visy Industry Impact Award
• Andrew Smith, Tasmania — E.E. Muir & Sons Community Stewardship Award
• Mark and Darren Todaro, Victoria — Butler Market Gardens Environmental Award

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