Daar is nog baie ander briljante jong landbouers, wat beter produsente as hy is, wat die fakkel moet oorvat en die beeld van landbou in Suid-Afrika verder kan uitbou. Só het Nelius Ferreira, Vrystaat Landbou (VL) se Jongboer van die Jaar vir 2018, gesê.

Volgens die Bonsmara-boer van Harrismith is dit juis interaksie met ander jong landbouers soos sy mede-finaliste van verlede jaar, Hendrik Theron, Reece Dedwith en Wessel Hattingh, wat hom moed gee vir landbou in Suid-Afrika.

VL is op soek na sy 24ste wenner van die prestige kompetisie. Dit is die eerste keer in 1996 aangebied. Die organisasie doen ’n beroep op alle jong landbouers, hul vriende en familie om seker te maak die beste kandidate is vanjaar finaliste. Inskrywings sluit 31 Januarie 2019.

Die wenner stap met ’n kontantprys van VL, asook ander pryse wat deur borge voorsien word, weg en sal outomaties aan die Toyota Agri SA nasionale Jongboer van die Jaar kompetisie deelneem.

Volgens prof Pieter Fourie, sameroeper van die beoordelaars en Hoof van die Department van Landbou by die Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie, moet ’n finalis ’n voorbeeld stel vir ander in die bedryf, veral vir jong landbouers.

“Dit is nie die grootte van ’n boerdery wat ’n landbouer laat wen nie,” sê hy. Fourie meen dit gaan eerder oor hoe hy of sy doen wat hulle doen en of hulle ’n unieke bydra maak. Hoe daar ’n voorbeeld gestel word in byvoorbeeld die presisie van ’n boerdery, watter balans daar is én hoe die bestuursprestasie lyk.

Afdelings waarop jong landbouers beoordeel word, sluit onder meer in toekomsbeeld, begroting en finansies, produksie, bemarking en gemeenskapsbetrokkendheid. Die belangrikste maatstawwe is bestuursfilosofie en hoe tegniese vaardighede aangewend word om dit toe te pas.

VL se Jongboer-konferensie, met die tema Toeganklike hulpbronne in ’n moderne landbou-omgewing, vind op 17 April 2019 by Monte Bello Estate in Bloemfontein plaas, waarna die wenner van die Jongboer-kompetisie by ’n gala-dinee aangekondig word.

Vanjaar se finaliste word vroeg in Maart deur ’n paneel beoordelaars op hul plase besoek en beoordeel.

• Kontak Elize Spence, Admin Beampte by VL, vir meer inligting en navrae by elize@vslandbou.co.za of 051 444 4609. Of besoek VL se webtuiste, http://vrystaatlandbou.co.za, om ’n inskrywingsvorm af te laai.

Free State Agriculture in search of 24th Young Farmer of the Year

There are many other brilliant young farmers, who are better producers than him, who have to take over the reins and help build the image of agriculture in South Africa. This is according to Nelius Ferreira, Free State Agriculture (FSA) Young Farmer of the Year for 2018.

The Bonsmara farmer from Harrismith says it is interaction with other young farmers such as his co-finalists of last year, Hendrik Theron, Reece Dedwith and Wessel Hattingh, that gives him hope for agriculture in South Africa.

FSA is looking for its 24th winner of the prestigious competition. It was held in 1996 for the first time. The organisation appeals to all young farmers, their friends and family to make sure the best candidates are finalists this year. Entries close on 31 January 2019.

The winner walks away with a cash prize from FSA, as well as other sponsored prizes, and will automatically participate in the Toyota Agri SA National Young Farmer of the Year competition.

According to Prof Pieter Fourie, convenor of the judges and Head of the Department of Agriculture at the Central University of Technology, a finalist must set an example for others in the industry, especially for young farmers.

“It is not the size of a farm or faming practices that makes a farmer win,” he says. Fourie explains that it is more about how he or she do what they do and whether they make a unique contribution. How an example is set in things like the precision of a farm, what balance there is and how the management performance looks.

Divisions on which young farmers are judged include, among other things, future vision, budget and finance, production, marketing and community engagement. The most important aspects are management philosophy and how technical skills are used to put it into action.

FSA’s Young Farmer Conference, with the theme Accessible Resources in a Modern Agricultural Environment, will be held at Monte Bello Estate in Bloemfontein on 17 April 2019, after which the Young Farmer of the Year will be announced at a gala dinner.

This year’s finalists will be visited and judged by a panel of judges early in March.

• Contact Elize Spence, Admin Officer at FSA, for more information and enquiries at elize@vslandbou.co.za or 051 444 4609. Or visit FSA’s website, http://vrystaatlandbou.co.za, to download an entry form.