This year’s Nampo Alfa, taking place on 2 and 3 October, provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the energy and diversity of South African agriculture, and the lifestyle that surrounds it. The long-term objective is to establish Nampo Alfa as a permanent and nationally significant platform for the livestock, agricultural, hunting, and outdoor industries, according to Nampo managing director Dirk Strydom.
“Nampo Alfa has its roots in the African Livestock Fair (Alfa), which was launched in 2016 as a dedicated livestock expo. Alfa quickly established itself as an important platform for the livestock industry, bringing a wide range of industry role players together under one roof,” explains Strydom.
“In 2019, the decision was taken to join forces with Grain SA and the Nampo brand. This resulted in an event that combined the strength and heritage of the livestock industry with the enormous reach and reputation of Nampo,” he says.
Strydom says Nampo Alfa has developed considerably since then, but livestock and livestock-related activities nonetheless remain at the heart of this year’s event.
“It is important to emphasise the fact that livestock is not only relevant to livestock producers. Many grain producers keep cattle, sheep, or other livestock as part of a diversified farming operation.
“Nampo Alfa provides grain producers with an opportunity to explore the livestock component of their businesses, learn from other producers, and engage with suppliers and industry experts,” adds Strydom.
The establishment of Nampo Alfa at Nampo Park near Bothaville in the Free State provided the event with a permanent home with sufficient infrastructure and space for future growth. However, the vision is not simply to make the event bigger, but to make it increasingly relevant to producers, breeders, businesses, families, and the broader South African agricultural and outdoor community.
More than what happens on a farm
Asked by Farmer’s Weekly how events such as Nampo Alfa add value to agriculture and related industries, Strydom says: “Agriculture is much more than what happens on the farm. It is a complete value chain involving producers, breeders, input suppliers, technology providers, processors, retailers, transporters, and many other businesses.
“It also provides an important platform for producers to showcase excellence. Livestock competitions, for example, are not simply about winning a championship or having the best-looking animals. They highlight breeding progress, animal quality, production efficiency, and the standards to which the industry aspires.”
Livestock has the potential to contribute markedly to risk management in grain production enterprises, improve the use of available resources, and form an important part of a sustainable farming system. Nampo Alfa gives grain producers an opportunity to engage with livestock breeders, view different breeds and production systems, and investigate equipment, feed, genetics, and other products relevant to livestock production.
“At the same time, Nampo Alfa brings agriculture and the outdoors closer to the general public. That is increasingly important. We need people who are not directly involved in agriculture to understand where their food comes from, what farmers do, and the contribution that agriculture makes to the South African economy,” explains Strydom.
One of the major highlights is the Old Mutual National Interbreed Championships, where some of South Africa’s top beef cattle compete. It provides breeders with an opportunity to benchmark their animals against the best in the country and ultimately crowns the Expo King and Expo Queen.
The Voermol Mega Ox is another major attraction. It has become a real crowd favourite and demonstrates the impressive genetic potential and growth performance that can be achieved in beef production. In 2025, the winning ox weighed approximately 1,6t, so there is certainly a challenge for this year’s exhibitors.
The programme also includes a strong small-stock component, breed introductions, judging and evaluation programmes, as well as opportunities for producers to learn more about functional and economically efficient livestock.
More for the public to see
“For us, the important point is that livestock at Nampo Alfa is both educational and competitive. It gives the public something spectacular to see, while providing producers with a valuable industry platform,” says Strydom.
A large proportion of farmers and agricultural communities are also involved in hunting, conservation, camping, 4×4 travel, overlanding, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Strydom points out that these industries are closely connected to rural economies and to the lifestyle of many people living and working in rural areas.
He adds that visitors can experience hunting equipment, optics, outdoor products, camping and caravanning, 4×4 vehicles, off-road equipment, and adventure products in the same environment as livestock and agriculture.
Family-oriented event
One of the highlights at Nampo Alfa is the 400m shooting range, which gives visitors the opportunity to experience shooting equipment and capabilities in a controlled environment.
It adds a practical dimension to the hunting component, allowing people to see and test equipment rather than only viewing it on exhibition stands.
The outdoor component has also helped Nampo Alfa become a more family-oriented event. It means there is something for the farmer, the outdoor enthusiast, young people, and families. The original decision taken to include hunting and the outdoors was based on creating an appreciation for the lifestyle of farmers and agriculture.
As Strydom puts it: “The typical farmer doesn’t only farm cattle, sheep or grain. There is an entire lifestyle surrounding agriculture, including hunting, conservation, outdoor recreation, 4x4s, and camping. The decision was therefore made to create an event that reflects the broader interests of that community rather than limiting it to what happens inside the grain value chain or the livestock arena.”
4×4 and related exhibitions
The vehicle and 4×4 components have over the years become an important part of Nampo Alfa. The exhibitions include 4×4 vehicles, utility vehicles, trailers, caravans, campers, vehicle accessories, and other products aimed at the adventure and outdoor market.
Demonstrations are particularly important because people want to see what these vehicles and products can actually do. The broader outdoor section has grown substantially, with around 160 exhibitors confirmed across hunting and outdoor-related products and experiences this year.
Farm skills competition
According to Strydom, the Farm Skills National Championships for schools provide an opportunity for learners to demonstrate practical skills.
In 2026, schools from five provinces are expected to compete. Agriculture needs young people who understand that farming is not simply about working with your hands.
Modern agriculture requires technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, machinery skills, animal husbandry, technology, and business understanding. Strydom explains that the value of the competition lies in the fact that it gives young people recognition for practical competence.
“We need to create a culture where practical agricultural skills are respected and where young people can see a future for themselves in agriculture. These young people could become tomorrow’s farmers, farm managers, technicians, agronomists, livestock specialists, and agricultural entrepreneurs. Investing in them is an investment in the future sustainability of the entire agriculture sector,” states Strydom.
Plans for the future
The 2026 Nampo Alfa also includes Afrikaans @ Nampo Alfa, a music festival featuring artists such as Riaan Benadé, Gerhard Steyn, Monique Steyn, and Chris Else.
Nampo Alfa offers something different. It provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the energy and diversity of South African agriculture and the lifestyle that surrounds it. The long-term objective is to establish Nampo Alfa as a permanent and nationally significant platform for the livestock, agricultural, hunting, and outdoor industries.
For more information, visit nampoalfa.co.za.
