“I am extremely privileged and blessed to be part of this group of excellent young farmers in South Africa,” he said.
Toyota Young Farmer of the Year award goes to North West farmer, Sakkie van Zyl. Congrats on your win! pic.twitter.com/lMbvuyR3dR
— Farmer’s Weekly SA (@FarmersWeeklySA) October 31, 2014
“It is incredible for me to see what you can achieve in your conditions where you farm. I am so happy that I didn’t have to be a judge. If it was up to me I would have thrown all the names in a hat and would have drawn a name because everyone is a worthy winner.”
Van Zyl, who has an MSc in agricultural economics, farms in Wolmaransstad district with maize, sunflower and livestock. He also operates a feedlot.
Trevor Abrahams from Ceres was named the most promising young farmer from a previously disadvantaged background.
“I was born to be a farmer, born to play a role and to be an advocate for farmers in South Africa,” he said.
Abrahams farms with deciduous fruit, vegetables and livestock.
Trevor Abrahams (middle) with Prof Carlu van der Wesethuizen (left) and Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing, Toyota South Africa Motors.
The other finalists in the Young Farmer of the Year competition were:
Northern Cape: Kolver Mulke farms with maize, groundnuts, potatoes, onions, seed onions and wheat under irrigation in the Plooysburg area.
Gauteng: Paul du Plessis, farms with maize, cattle, sugar beans and soy beans in the Heidelberg area.
Mpumalanga: Charles Hodsdon, farms with stud and commercial cattle, maize, wheat and soy beans in the Volksrust area.
Limpopo: Zander Ernst, farms with bananas and avocados in the Tzaneen area.
Free State: Boeboe Louw farms maize, wheat, lucerne, sunflower, sheep and cattle in the Wesselsbron area.
Eastern Cape: Boertjie Nel, farms with citrus in the Kirkwood area.
Western Cape: Jaco du Toit farms with table grapes in the Hex River Valley.
