ALL five Agri Eastern Cape Farmers Associations from the Middelburg district held a joint year-end function on Thursday, November 14.
More than 70 members of Nooitgedacht, Rooihoogte, Willows, Bo-Suurberg and Schoombee turned up to listen and have a question and answer session with Doug Stern, president of Agri Eastern Cape.
The various challenges facing farmers today were discussed, with the ongoing drought being at the forefront.
This is a pressing issue which sees farmers struggling more and more to provide feed for their animals.
The effect on farmers is compounded by livestock and wool prices being under pressure, recent veld fires and rising input costs, as well as political and policy uncertainty.
Stern, Eben du Plessis, an Agri EC council member, and Stefan Erasmus, chairperson of the Middelburg District Agricultural Union, shared the achievements and progress that has been made in organised agriculture throughout the year.
They also acknowledged the invaluable support received from the general public through initiatives such as donations of animal feed and the “Boks vir ’n Boervrou” donations.
The prevailing message was that now is the time to stand together and that members should support each other and play an active role in being part of the various Agri EC initiatives.
Erasmus fittingly ended the discussions with the quote by Albert Einstein which reads, “Try not to be a person of success, but rather to become a person of value”.
Members were thanked for the contributions they made during the year.
Certificates of acknowledgement awarded
- Eben du Plessis – most active member
- CJ Fouché – firefighter of the year
- Herby Newton and Dirk van der Walt – longest membership
- Yolandi Erasmus – best secretary
Nooitgedacht – Farmers Association of the Year
Members and their families enjoyed the rest of the evening and were treated to a delicious “spit” prepared by Celtis Country Lodge. It was truly a special occasion to have such a large portion of Middelburg’s farming community coming together.
