After adjudicating the prestigious TAU/TLU Young Farmer of the Year Award on 31 August, Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, announced Johan van Staden has won the 2011 title.
Mutual & Federal insures 36% of all South African commercial farmers. Furthermore, it supports future generation farmers and agricultural organisations such as TAU (written in Afrikaans as TLU) across South Africa to promote food security.
Andries Wiese, Group Manager for Agriculture at Mutual & Federal, says farming is an essential aspect of any economy and farmers need to be stimulated to grow and create sustainable farms. “This is why Mutual & Federal supports initiatives that inspire young farmers and contribute to their well-being and the future health of food security in South Africa.”
One of the competition judges of Mutual & Federal Agri, Paul du Plessis, says: “Over the last few weeks, we have gone through a gruelling process to determine who will be named South Africa’s TAU/TLU Young Farmer of the Year and are proud to announce Johan van Staden as the winner.”
Farmers 35 years old or younger, and members of the TAU/TLU, were eligible for the competition. They were assessed on criteria including financial management, labour relations and their participation in organised agriculture within South Africa.
Shortlisted farmers were interviewed by a panel of judges. A final shortlist was drawn up and the panel then visited each farm to see if the entrant complies with criteria he or she presented in the previous round.
“We determined whether they physically practiced what they preached through their farming techniques, financial records and operational activities. We looked at their livestock and crops, compliance with regulations and legislation and then each judge scored them independently,” says du Plessis.
Johan van Staden was revealed as the winner at an award ceremony held at the CSIR in Pretoria – the agricultural hub of Gauteng. Second place was awarded to Johann Pistorius, while the third place was awarded to Awee Claassens.
“As the winner, Johan receives R15 000, a floating trophy - and a smaller trophy to keep – and is invited to attend a major global agricultural expo in France, Europe. Johann and Awee, placed second and third, also receive trophies as well as R6 000 and R4 000 respectively,” adds du Plessis.
Wiese concludes: “We are excited to have been part of the adjudication process and congratulate Johan van Staden for being a step above the rest in promoting the best farm practices. Mutual & Federal strives for food security through the success of future generation farmers, not only within our borders, but in the rest of the world too. In addition to the TAU/TLU Young Farmer of the Year Award, we will also be adjudicating the Namibian Young Farmer of the Year Award in October.”
Mutual & Federal is one of the leading short-term insurers in southern Africa.
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