Mikayla Franklin

Mikayla Franklin is a Foreperson at Craigmore, based in Central Hawke's Bay, where she is responsible for managing staff and teams across a range of orchard operations including tree husbandry, mowing, and spraying. Her progression from casual orchard hand to leading hand to foreperson over five years reflects both her work ethic and her commitment to growing within the industry.

Mikayla holds Level 3 and 4 certificates in Horticulture, along with Growsafe, First Aid, and Dale Carnegie qualifications. She leads with a hands-on style, focused on finding more efficient ways of working and creating an environment where her team feels comfortable speaking up and contributing ideas.

Looking ahead, Mikayla is aiming to step into an Assistant Manager role and plans to complete a Level 5 Post Harvest qualification before starting a degree. Outside of work, she is a mum to a nine-year-old daughter and enjoys road trips and getting outdoors together. She is entering the competition to challenge herself, build her profile, and represent her workplace.