The commodity organisation hosted its annual Day of Celebration in Bloemfontein during which it announced the best performing developing farmers in subsistence and smallholder categories, as well as the finalists in the commercial category. 

CEO Jannie de Villiers says the event is one of the most special ones on their calendar as they are celebrating a harvest of new farmers: “Like we do in the grain business, we invest in preparing the soil, planting the seed and all of that.

“So here we do it with farmers. We prepare the soil by seeing what their needs are, helping them, educating them, training them. Practise it all over again. Then you get to the point where you actually harvest farmers.

“This is what this country and this whole development programme is all about.”

The commercial finalists are Zondiwe Motshwene from Louwsburg and Maseli Letuka and Frans Mokoena, both from Ladybrand in the Free State. These candidates produce more than 250 tons of maize per year. 

Letuka told OFM News he did not come from a farming background, but is passionate about the sector.

“I started myself reading books and then visiting farmer’s days. That’s when I accelerated my passion for farming.”

The finalists will now head to Midrand on October 14, where the winner will be announced during the annual Grain SA Grain Producer of the Year gala awards ceremony.

OFM News