18 Jun 2010

RDS Horticulture Student of the Year 2010 - www.HortiTrends.com

RDS Horticulture Student of the Year 2010

James Sherlock from Skerries, Co. Dublin is the 2010 RDS Horticulture
Student of the Year. James was presented with his award by Minister of State for Sustainable
Transport, Horticulture, Planning and Heritage, Ciaran Cuffe TD, at a special ceremony in the
RDS. He was awarded a beautiful RDS perpetual trophy, an RDS Silver Medal and a cheque for
€2,500.

James, who is in the third year of his bachelor of science in horticulture at the College of
Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, plans to use the prize
money to complete the fourth year of his studies. James hopes that on completion of his studies
he will have the skills, knowledge and experience to apply to local government for an advisory
position and one day realise his career goal of becoming a parks superintendent.
James has a love and interest in the outdoors in his blood. Generations of his family have
farmed their own land in Rush and Skerries, Co. Dublin and James grew up spending his
summers working alongside his grandfather learning what can be produced from the land and
all aspects of both horticulture and agriculture.

Runner up, in a very close contest was James Cuffey of the College of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Enterprise, Greenmount, Co. Antrim. James is the recipient of an RDS Certificate of Merit
and a cheque for €1,000.

Each year all four colleges of horticulture in Ireland nominate their two best final year students
to compete for this award. From the eight nominees, selection is based on their career to date,
knowledge of horticulture and plans for the nominees’ future careers.

The enthusiasm and commitment of past horticulture students has contributed to an enormous
improvement in the quality of life for people all over Ireland. The Irish horticultural sector is
worth more than €300 million to the economy and there are over 10,000 employed in the
Horticulture industry full time. 

Minister of State, Ciaran Cuffe, commended the RDS on their
work supporting an industry that contributes greatly to the quality of life of the people all over
Ireland, and continues to make a very significant contribution to the Irish economy.
Anne James, Principal of the Judging Panel, described the finalists as a growing number of very
talented young people opting for a career in the rapidly expanding amenity horticulture area.

The RDS Horticulture Student of the Year is part of the RDS Foundation’s agriculture
programme which aims to inform, debate and promote excellence in agricultural and rural
development as well as recognising and rewarding the professional development of young
practitioners and supporting developmental projects in agriculture and rural life.