Daily News 07 August

Paul Collett was named the regional winner of the Toyota Young Farmer of the Year award at the Agri Eastern Cape Congress, 5th August 2015, at Mentors Venue, Jeffreys Bay.

Collett, who hails from Speelmanskop near Cradock, farms with Angora goats, Angus cattle and Döhne sheep as well as maize and lucerne.

The young farmer joined the elite 20-ton maize producers’ club last year and also reaped the overall honours in the Cradock District Agricultural Union’s Young Farmer of the Year competition in June.

In the provincial competition, his was one of many strong applications that were screened and subjected to close scrutiny during farm visits by the judging panel that included outgoing and incoming Agri EC presidents Ernest Pringle and Doug Stern.

Collett, who is also a member of the Fish River Agricultural Association, will represent the Eastern Cape at the Toyota Agri South Africa national awards ceremony later this year.

“It’s a great honour to win this award. It was quite unexpected,” said the 32-year-old, who holds a masters degree in aquaculture with distinction from Rhodes University.

“I want to encourage other young farmers to take part in this competition. The analysis I’ve done and the measurables I’ve had to think about and put in place have allowed me to develop my business.”