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CHAPTER 9
TABLE 1(b): AWARDS MADE BY NAMPO, 1987 - 1995
Junior Maize Man
of the Year
Agricultural Personality
of the Year
Maize Personality
of the Year
Certificates of honour for
the leadership’s contribu-
tion over many years
1987
Japie Grobler
– Bothaville
Kobus Jooste
– President SALU
Fanie Ferreira
Crawford von Abo
1988
Martiens Prinsloo
– Hoopstad
1989
Glen Easton
– Koster
1990
Dries Bruwer
– TLU
Boetie Viljoen
1991
Dr WP Grobbelaar
– Department
of Agriculture and Water Supply
1995
Giel van Zyl
– General Manager: NAMPO
This abstract from
Mielies/Maize
magazine of December 1985 gives an indication
of the stature that the awards developed: ‘When one speaks of the South African
golf champions and Currie Cup champions you can speak about the maize farmer
and maize researcher in South African agriculture at the same time these days.
These are the most sought-after awards in agriculture today for which producers
and researchers compete. When someone is nominated as winner in one of the
two divisions, they are champions in their own right.’ (See
Table 1[a]
and
1[b]
for a
summary of the awards by NAMPO until 1999.)
Grain SA has built on this basis since 1999. Even today the taxing assessment for
this award demands a lot from finalists, as nearly every part of the farming operation
is evaluated. However, the value of the feedback and positive inputs by experts is
invaluable to the participant.
Table 2
provides a summary of the awards made by Grain SA since 2000.
SPONSORS
Three Ships Whisky sponsored the Maize Man Award for five years since its inception,
after which Case and later Foskor acted as main sponsors. The NAMPO Executive
decided to divide the prize money equally between the Maize Man and the Agriculture
Researcher of the Year.
In 1985 JI Case took over the sponsorship and a condition was that the prize money
had to be used to investigate an aspect of maize farming abroad and then make a
report available to South African maize farmers afterwards.
Through the years many amendments were made to the competition – sponsors
changed, prizes became more attractive, the name was changed to suit the current
agricultural environment and additional awards were introduced to include
emerging farmers and those who made special contributions to the agricultural
sector. By 1989, when Foskor entered as sponsor, the prize money for the Maize
Man of the Year was improved with two return tickets for the winner and their
spouse to New York.
Sound bite: The evaluation process was a fright-
ening but enriching experience for participants
– Mr Giel van Zyl.
