News release by the Northern Branch of the Agricultural Writers SA on the regional awards for the Farmer and Agriculturalist of the Year 2008
Sponsored by: ABSA and Monsanto.

September, 2008 – The Northern Region of the Agricultural Writers SA acknowledged outstanding achievements of five commercial farmers, an emerging farmer as well as five agricultural personalities. The awards was handed over to farmers and agriculturists from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the North West Province and KwaZulu-Natal at a gala event in Pretoria on Friday 26 September October.

One of the aims of these awards is to give prominence to the role that farmers and agriculturist play in the agricultural sector in South Africa.  But it is also important to note that these award recipients also impact on the broader economy of the country as well as the southern African region.

Farmer of the Year

• Manjoh Ranch, Agricultural Writers SA (North) Farmer of the Year 2008 – Gauteng
• Brandon Karg, Agricultural Writers SA (North) Farmer of the Year 2008 – KwaZulu-Natal
• Linda Nghatsane, Agricultural Writers SA (North) Farmer of the Year 2008 – Mpumalanga
• Gerhard Dreyer, Landbouskrywers SA (Noord) Boer van die Jaar 2008 – Noordwes
• Jacques Willemse, Landbouskrywers SA (Noord) Boer van die Jaar 2008 – Limpopo

Agriculturist of the Year

• Dr. Hinner Köster, Landbouskrywers SA (Noord) Landboukundige van die Jaar 2008 – Gauteng
• Rodger Stewart, Agricultural Writers SA (North) Agriculturist of the Year 2008 – KwaZulu-Natal
• Prof. Chris Dannhauser, Agricultural Writers SA (North) Agriculturist of the Year 2008 – Limpopo
• Prof. Johnnie van den Berg, Landbouskrywers SA (Noord) Landboukundige van die Jaar 2008 – Noordwes
• At van Schalkwyk, Landbouskrywers SA (Noord) Landboukundige van die Jaar 2008 – Mpumalanga

Developing Farmer of the Year 2008 (north)

Yvonne Molefe, Agricultural Writers SA

From the left: Gert Heyns, Marketing Manager Seed, Monsanto SubSahara Africa (Sponsor representative) Me Yvonne Molefe, Agricultural Writers SA North's Developing Farmer of 2008 Dr Hans Balyamujura, Regional Manager: Absa AgriBusiness (Sponsor respresentative)

From the left: Bennie Bester, Commercial Lead Monsanto South Africa Magda du Toit, Communication Manager Monsanto and Chairman of Agricultural Writers SA North At van Schalkwyk, ABSA and Agriculturist of the Year 2008, Mpumalanga