8 / 27
THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႊ
WE WILL HAVE TO GUARD
AGAINST THE HARVEST
DAY BECOMING A FLEA
MARKET. THE PURPOSE OF
THE HARVEST DAY IS TO
GIVE INPUT PROVIDERS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE CONTACT WITH
OUR FARMERS ON A
PERSONAL LEVEL AND TO
SHOW THEM THE LATEST
TECHNOLOGY IN THE
AREA OF AGRICULTURE.
– Mr Giel van Zyl, Managing
Director of NAMPO; 1996.
Agricultural leadership
The goal of the Harvest Day pioneers was to establish the Harvest Day as a com-
petitive SAMPI product and at the same time effectively address the need of the
producers. Throughout those initial years the three pioneers from Bloemfontein
maintained a strong presence in the organisation of the Harvest Day that was held
on Hopefield, as well as at the other regional harvest days that became established
since 1969.
Mr Kobus Kotzé took the lead in organising the harvest day in the Eastern Transvaal.
In the Western Transvaal Mr Callie van Wyk from Ottosdal took the lead. Mr Paul
Jordaan was the Chairperson of the Harvest Day since 1974 and was succeeded by
Van Wyk in 1983.
By the early eighties the officials were supported by an organising committee
comprising volunteer producers who did not necessarily serve on the Executive
The first buildings on the permanent Harvest Day Grounds were erected in 1974 . Here the
floor of one of the restaurants is poured.
Grain SA entertained the organisation’s former leadership, NAMPO Harvest Day Committee members, volunteers, staff and friends of
the Harvest Day during a 50-year event on Friday, 20 May. On the photo are the agricultural leaders responsible for Grain SA’s NAMPO
Harvest Day over the past nearly three decades. In front: Vic Mouton (Harvest Day Chairperson 2001 - 2005), Jub Jubelius (Harvest Day
Chairperson 2005 - 2011), Cobus van Coller (Harvest Day Chairperson since 2011) and Johan Loxton (Manager, Commercial Services, who
has been at the helm of the NAMPO Harvest Day organisation for the past 20 years). At the back: Jannie de Villiers (CEO: Grain SA), Japie
Grobler (Harvest Day Chairperson 1987 - 1989) and Bully Botma (Harvest Day Chairperson 1989 - 2001).
“
”