Die kompetisie het ses weke tevore afgeskop, met OFM wat inskrywings vir ’n splinternuwe John Deere 5045D ter waarde van meer as R330 000 gevra het. Boere moes kort video’s en motiverings indien om vir die prys mee te ding, waarna 270 inskrywings deur beoordelaars geëvalueer is om die vyf finaliste te kies.

Die finaliste het ingesluit:

• Arno Potgieter van Bloemfontein, wat met 50 skape, 400 lêhenne, 30 varke en voergewasse boer. Hy glo dat ’n betroubare trekker sy gemengde boerdery sal vaartbelyn maak, voerdoeltreffendheid verbeter en stilstand verminder.
• Ben Pienaar van Potchefstroom, wie se boerderyreis saam met sy oupa begin het. Hy droom daarvan om sy familieplaas volhoubaar uit te brei, maar sukkel met verouderde toerusting.
• Johan Naude van Bethlehem, wat met sojabone, mielies, appels, skape en beeste boer. ’n Nuwe trekker sou sy bedryf doeltreffender maak, kostes verlaag en die toekoms van sy plaas beveilig.
• Rikus Stander van Luckhoff, wat met mielies en lewende hawe op Eendrag boer. Ná ’n ernstige ongeluk het hy sy vertroue in John Deere gesit, en glo dat ’n nuwe trekker sy doeltreffendheid sal verhoog en bedryfskoste sal verlaag.
• Richard Carey van Bloemfontein, ’n tweede-generasie kitsgrasboer, vir wie die John Deere 5045D ideaal is om gras te sny, gif te spuit en kompos te strooi.

Stephan Gouws, besturende direkteur van John Deere Suid-Afrika, het die onmisbare rol van boere in hul gemeenskappe beklemtoon. “Ons is hier om ons kliënte te ontmoet en beter met hulle te skakel. Elke stuk toerusting wat ons ontwikkel, het bykomende waarde wat ons graag wil deel,” sê Gouws.

Anchen Lintvelt, OFM se verkoopsbestuurder, sê die kompetisie het die kreatiwiteit van Suid-Afrika se boerderygemeenskap ten toon gestel. “Baie dankie aan almal wat deelgeneem het – dit was ongelooflik om te sien hoeveel moeite die gemeenskap ingesit het. Ons het 270 unieke inskrywings ontvang, en dit was kreatief, innoverend en inspirerend om die talent in ons landbousektor te sien.”

Lucas Groenewald, John Deere se verkoopsbestuurder, sê die gevoel om ’n verskil te maak is onbeskryflik. “Ek is net so opgewonde soos die wenner! Om ’n verskil te maak is vir my een van die mooiste dinge in die lewe, en ek dink ons het dit vandag reggekry. John Deere doen dit elke dag – ons maak ’n verskil aan boere se lewens en die toekoms van landbou.”

Carey, wat steeds die groot nuus probeer verwerk, sê hy sien uit na die voordele wat die nuwe trekker vir sy bedryf gaan inhou. “Die hoofdoel met my nuwe trekker gaan wees om gif te spuit, gras te sny en kunsmis te strooi. Ons is baie tevrede en weet hierdie trekker gaan ’n groot verskil maak en vir baie jare hou.”

OFM cg

Waarom OFM

OFM, die klank van jou lewe, is Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se voorste handelsradiostasie, wat ’n verskeidenheid musiek, nuus en vermaak bied. Die stasie vier vanjaar reeds 39 jaar in die uitsaaiwese. OFM is deel van die Central Media Group, met sy hoofkantoor in Bloemfontein.

Die stasie bedien die welvarende SEM 7-10 ekonomies aktiewe mark met ’n uitsaaigebied wat die Vrystaat, Noord-Kaap, Suid-Gauteng en Noordwes insluit. OFM is sinoniem met die mense van Sentraal-Suid-Afrika, en sluit ’n volle spektrum van luisteraars in, van stedelike werkende ouers, tot korporatiewe professionele persone, sowel as landelike gemeenskappe en landbouprodusente.

Die stasie het ’n ongelooflike lojale en ondersteunende gehoor. OFM se luisteraars spandeer van die meeste tyd wat luisteraars in Suid-Afrika spandeer om radio te luister. Dit word bereik deur die stasie se gepaste musiekaanbiedinge – luisteraars kan hul gunstelingliedjies op die Request Network versoek en op Saterdae kan hulle inskakel om saam Sentraal-Suid-Afrika se 30 grootste treffers op die Central SA Top 30 af te tel.

OFM bied verskeie nisprogramme aan – insluitend ’n toegewyde landbouprogram met drie bykomende landbounuusberigte per dag, asook as ’n toegewyde sakeprogram.

Sport lê OFM-luisteraars na aan die hart en dit is wat baie Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners bymekaar bring. Die stasie is ’n trotse vennoot, borg en ondersteuner van die Cheetahs-, Griekwas- en Luiperds-rugbyspanne, asook die Knights, Heat en Dragons krieketspanne. OFM is daartoe verbind om die waarlik goeie lewe te lei, en terselfdertyd Sentraal-Suid-Afrikaners te help om hul beste lewens te lei.

Instant Lawn Farmer Wins Big with New John Deere Tractor

Richard Carey, an instant lawn farmer from Bloemfontein, drove away as the winner of the OFM and John Deere ‘Lekker soos ’n Trekker’ competition during Graan SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day on Thursday, 15 May.

The competition, which started six weeks earlier, called for farmers to submit short videos and motivations for a chance to win a brand new John Deere 5045D valued at over R330,000. Judges evaluated 270 entries to select the five finalists who travelled to NAMPO Park for the final draw.

The finalists included:

• Arno Potgieter from Bloemfontein, who manages 50 sheep, 400 layer chickens, 30 pigs, and crops. He believes a reliable tractor will streamline his mixed farming operations, improve feed efficiency, reduce downtime, and boost productivity.
• Ben Pienaar from Potchefstroom, whose farming journey started alongside his grandfather. Despite outdated equipment, he dreams of building a sustainable future for his family.
• Johan Naude from Bethlehem, a young farmer producing maize, soybeans, apples, sheep, and cattle. He hopes a new tractor will improve efficiency, cut costs, and secure his farm’s future.
• Rikus Stander from Luckhoff, who farms with maize, mielies, and livestock on Eendrag. After a serious accident, he committed to John Deere for reliable power. A new tractor would improve his efficiency, reduce operating costs, and increase productivity.
• Richard Carey from Bloemfontein, a second-generation instant lawn farmer, who sees the John Deere 5045D as essential for mowing, fertilising, spraying, and hauling, making daily operations smoother and more efficient.

John Deere South Africa’s Managing Director, Stephan Gouws, highlighted the vital role farmers play in their communities. “We are here to meet our customers and connect with them better. Every piece of equipment we develop has added value that we are proud to share,” said Gouws.

OFM Sales Manager, Anchen Lintvelt, said the competition showcased the creativity of South Africa’s farming community. “Thank you to everyone who entered – it was amazing to see the effort the community put in. We received 270 unique entries, and it was creative, innovative, and inspiring to see the talent in our agricultural sector.”

John Deere Sales Manager, Lucas Groenewald, said the feeling of making a difference is indescribable. “I’m just as excited as the winner! Making a difference is one of the most rewarding things in life, and I think we did that today. John Deere does this every day – we make a difference in the lives of farmers and the future of agriculture.”

Carey, still processing his big win, said he is looking forward to the benefits his new tractor will bring to his business. “The main purpose of my new tractor will be spraying herbicides, mowing grass, and spreading fertiliser. We are very happy and know this tractor will make a huge difference and last for many years.”

Why OFM

OFM, the Sound of Your Life, is Central South Africa’s premier commercial radio station, offering a mix of music, news, and entertainment. The station celebrates 39 years in the broadcasting industry this year. OFM is part of the Central Media Group, with its head office in Bloemfontein.

The station serves the affluent SEM 7-10 economically active marketplace with a broadcast footprint across the Free State, Northern Cape, southern Gauteng and North West. OFM is synonymous with the people of Central South Africa, and includes a full spectrum of listeners, from urban working moms and dads to corporate professionals, as well as rural communities and agricultural producers.

The station has an incredibly loyal and supportive audience. OFM enjoys one of the highest occurrences of time spent listening to the radio in South Africa. This is achieved by the station’s great music offerings – such as playing listeners their favourite songs on the Request Network and counting down Central South Africa’s 30 biggest hits on the Central SA Top 30.

OFM offers several niche features – including a dedicated agricultural programme with three additional agricultural news updates a day, as well as a dedicated business programme.

Sport is close to OFM listeners’ hearts and is what brings much of Central South Africa together. The station is a proud partner, sponsor, and supporter of the Cheetahs, Griquas and Leopards rugby teams as well as the Knights, Heat and Dragons cricket teams. OFM is committed to living the real good life, while at the same time helping Central South Africans to live their best lives.