Die vyf finaliste in Vrystaat Landbou (VL) se Jongboer van die Jaar kompetisie glo almal dat daar ’n toekoms vir landbou in Suid-Afrika is, mits jy bereid is om hard te werk en die uitdagings te trotseer.

Volgens prof Pieter Fourie, sameroeper van die beoordelaars en Hoof van die Departement van Landbou by die Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie (SUT) is die finaliste sterk kandidate wat sake sal uitspook om as VL se 25ste Jongboer van die Jaar aangewys te word. Die finaliste is reeds in Februarie 2020 deur die beoordelaarspaneel op hul plase besoek. Vanweë die Covid-pandemie, was

VL genoodsaak om die aanwysing van die wenner uit te stel en sal die jongboere nou op 13 April om die titel meeding.

Annalea van Niekerk, ’n beesboer van Reitz, wil ’n verskil in mense se lewens maak en ook hoop vir ander jongmense in landbou gee.

Douglas Osler, ’n appelboer van Fouriesburg, glo dat ‘wat jy insit, jy sal uitkry’.

Jimmy Roberts, ’n vee-, saai- en wildboer van Hertzogville, glo dat ‘jy elke moontlike geleentheid moet raaksien en ten volle aangryp om die meeste daarvan te maak’. Louis de Jager, ’n veeboer van Wepener, meen die rol van jongboere in Suid-Afrika is die ontwikkeling van mense om landbou volhoubaar te maak.

Nant Yzel, ’n saaiboer van Marquard, glo jongboere se belangrikste take is om voedsel te voorsien, werksgeleenthede te skep en welvaart in die platteland te verseker.

Volgens prof Fourie is van die afdelings waarop deelnemers beoordeel word, onder meer toekomsbeeld, begroting en finansies, produksie, bemarking, instandhouding, personeelbestuur en gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid.

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

Die vorige wenner, Herman Janse van Rensburg van Arlington, moedig jongboere aan om met passie te boer. “As jy jou passie verloor, verloor jy moed. Daarom: Doen wat jy moet en gryp die geleenthede wat oor jou pad kom aan.”

Woordvoerders: Prof Pieter Fourie Sameroeper van die beoordelaarspaneel en Hoof van die Department van Landbou by die Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie

FSA Young Farmer finalists believe in future of agriculture in SA

The five finalists in the Free State Agriculture’s (FSA) Young Farmer of the Year competition all believe that there is a future for agriculture in South Africa, provided you are willing to work hard and meet the challenges.

According to Prof Pieter Fourie, convener of the judges and Head of the Department of Agriculture at the Central University of Technology (CUT), the finalists are strong candidates who will battle it out to be named FSA’s 25th Young farmer of the Year. The finalists were already visited by the judging panel on their farms in February 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, FSA was forced to postpone the nomination of the winner and the young farmers will now compete for the title on Tuesday, 13 April.

Annalea van Niekerk, a cattle farmer from Reitz, wants to make a difference in people’s lives and also give hope to other young people in agriculture.

Douglas Osler, an apple farmer from Fouriesburg, believes that “what you put in, you will get out”.

Jimmy Roberts, a livestock, arable and game farmer from Hertzogville, believes that “you have to spot every opportunity and make the most of it.”

Louis de Jager, a livestock farmer from Wepener, believes that the role of young farmers in South Africa is the development of people in order to make agriculture sustainable. Nant Yzel, an arable farmer from Marquard, believes that the most important tasks of young farmers are to provide food, create jobs and ensure prosperity in the countryside.

According to Prof Fourie, some of the sections on which participants are judged include future vision, budget and finances, production, marketing, maintenance, personnel management and community involvement.

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

The previous winner, Herman Janse van Rensburg from Arlington, encourages young farmers to farm with passion. “If you lose your passion, you lose heart. Therefore: Do what you have to do and seize the opportunities that come your way.”

Spokesperson:

Prof Pieter Fourie
Convener of the judges and Head of the Department of Agriculture at the Central University of Technology (CUT)