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Struggles and HARD WORK forgotten
as SUCCESS is celebrated
‘F
arming is not about land; it is about using land. Today
we are celebrating those who are using land and using it
well,’ said Ms Jane McPherson (manager: Farmer Devel-
opment Programme, Grain SA) at the tenth Day of Cele-
bration held on 26 September.
NAMPO Park hosted this prestigious event for the first time in nine
years. In 2008 Grain SA initiated this celebration to give acknow-
ledgment to farmers for the hard work they put in throughout
the year.
About 400 guests, which included government representatives,
agricultural stakeholders, emerging grain producers and Grain SA
personnel, attended the event this year. Guests sported colour-
ful traditional outfits and there was a buzz of excitement in the air.
It was evident that agriculture in South Africa was alive and well.
This competition is not about winning, but about celebrating the
learning, growth, development and hard work of the thousands of
farmers in the Grain SA Farmer Development Programme. It is meant
to serve as a beacon of motivation and inspiration to work towards
improving farming skills and achieving goals.
The selected nominees were identified for good agricultural prac-
tices and are all an example of what can be achieved.
Growing together
American businessman, James Cash Penney, said ‘Growth is never
by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together’. Since
Grain SA embarked on a road to assist farmers to become better
agriculturalists there was growth in the number of South African
farmers.
Mr Jannie de Villiers (CEO, Grain SA), is extremely proud of the
team involved in the programme who were instrumental in adding
29 new emerging farmers to the list of farmers who are now pro-
ducing grain of commercial quality. He expressed his gratitude to
every emerging grain farmer who is willing to be guided, thereby
ensuring a growing harvest of grain farmers each year.
21 farmers joined the 250 Ton Club, three new members were added
to the 500 Ton Club and 1 000 Ton Club respectively, and two farm-
ers became proud representatives of the 1 500 Ton Club. ‘We don’t
farm for farmers, but give them guidance so that they learn to farm
for themselves. At this event we do not celebrate a harvest of maize,
but a harvest of farmers,’ De Villiers added.
The winners (and finalists) who took their mentors’ advice to heart
and showed the greatest improvement in the various categories are
as follows:
The
2018 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer
of the Year
, Ms Jenette Thembi Shoba (59) from Mpumalanga, was
overjoyed to be announced as the winner. She joined Grain SA in 2014
and became a more skilled farmer by attending study group sessions,
producing an astonishing 7,5 tons of maize on her 1 ha. Mr Michris
Janse van Rensburg donated a fertiliser spreader and Ms Helene
Rhodes sponsored a threshing machine. With these gifts Shoba
may even increase her yield in the next season.
GRAIN SA
Day of Celebration
LOUISE KUNZ,
SA Graan/Grain
editorial team
November 2018
1: The 2018 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial
Farmer of the Year, Jeremia Mathebula, is in the centre. To the left of him
are Jaco Minnaar (chairperson, Grain SA) and Ramodisa Monaisa (master
of ceremonies and Grain SA executive committee member) and to the right
the two sponsor representatives, Antois van der Westhuizen (John Deere
Financial) and Belinda Jacobs (Absa).
2: A delighted Jeremia could not wait to hear the roar of his brand new
John Deere 5075 E tractor.
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