FEATURE young horties

There’s a new movement stirring in the world of Australian horticulture, and it’s bold, fresh, and powered by young professionals across the supply chain. Earlier this year, I joined Young Horties, Australia’s first national network created specifically for all young people working across the horticulture supply chain. I had the pleasure of attending the Brisbane Meet & Greet in June. The energy in the room was contagious, with passionate conversations about everything from farm innovation to leadership.

Interview by Chi Nguyen, vegetablesWA

I recently sat down with the inspiring co-founders of Young Horties, Ebony Faichney and Emily Hoang, to learn more about the network’s origin story, its fast-growing community, and what lies ahead.

Chi: Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and the team behind Young Horties?

Emily: Absolutely! Young Horties was founded in early 2025 by Ebony and me. We come from different corners of the industry. Ebony has a background in extension, and I’m from the supply chain and events space. We both felt there was a real need for a national community that supported and empowered young people across all sectors of horticulture.

Ebony: Our founding committee includes six of us: Emily, myself, Abby Templeton, Amberley Sprauge, Iain MacLennan, and Peter Jealous. It’s a diverse mix of skills and experiences, which has helped us create something that resonates with people across the entire supply chain from agronomy and marketing to policy and logistics.

The energy in the room was contagious, with passionate conversations about everything from farm innovation to leadership.

Chi: What inspired you to start Young Horties?

Ebony: Honestly, it started with a simple question: why doesn’t horticulture have a national network for young people, like they do in the cattle and grain sectors? We saw that gap and decided to do something about it. There’s so much talent in hort, and we wanted to build a community where young professionals could connect, grow, and be heard.

Emily: We wanted to create a space that’s professional, inclusive, and also fun. A place where people can build networks, find mentors, and share ideas to shape the future of our industry.

Chi: The response has been amazing! What’s the engagement been like so far?

Emily: We’ve been blown away! In just under 6 months, we’ve grown to over 140 members across Australia. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. People are excited to be part of something new and vibrant.

Ebony: We’ve heard from people in every corner of the industry who are keen to connect. Whether they’re working on a farm, in R&D, or government, they’re all looking for that community of peers who understand their world.

Chi: I also wanted to ask about your Meet & Greet events because I had the opportunity to attend the Brisbane gathering in June and was so impressed by the buzz in the room. It was a unique mix of fun, openness, and genuine curiosity among attendees. Can you share more about the vision behind these events and how they’ve been received?

Emily: That’s great to hear! These events are designed to be relaxed but purposeful. They’re all about bringing people together in a face-to-face setting to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build real connections.

Ebony: The Brisbane and Loxton events were fantastic. We’ve had such strong feedback. People loved the casual but professional vibe. It can be hard to meet others in the industry outside of your immediate circle, especially if you’re early in your career or in a regional area. These events help make those connections easier and more meaningful.

Emily: And we’re only just getting started! More Meet & Greets are planned for capital cities and regional hubs later this year.

Chi: I loved the Lunch with a Legend webinar with Johnathon Davey. What can you tell us about the series?

Ebony: That’s been very popular, which is great! The idea is to bring industry legends of hort into an informal setting where they can share their career journeys, lessons, and advice with our members. We want to highlight all the types of careers and fun you have in hort. By having it online, means anyone can join in.

Emily: Johnathon Davey, CEO of Melons Australia, was our first guest, and he set the bar high. We’ve got a fantastic line-up of legends coming up too. It’s all about giving members access to real-world insights and inspiration straight from the source.

Chi: For young people in hort who want to get involved, what’s the best way to join?

Ebony: It’s super easy, just head to this link to sign up: https://tr.ee/bl84zdANG1. Membership is free and open to anyone under 40 working in or connected to horticulture.

Emily: Once you join, you’ll get access to our WhatsApp group, event invites, and email updates. You can also follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn at @younghorties to stay in the loop.

Chi: Any exciting things coming up that we should keep an eye out for?

Emily and Ebony: Yes! We’re planning a nationwide celebration for National Ag Day in November. It’s going to be big! We want to bring together as many young horties as possible to celebrate our industry and the people shaping its future.

There’s something special about a group of people who see a gap and step up to fill it, and that’s exactly what Ebony, Emily, and the team have done. Young Horties is more than a network; it’s a movement. And for anyone under 40 in the world of horticulture, it’s one you won’t want to miss.