Warren Bam’s hard work and dedication saw him receiving the keys to a brand new Toyota Hilux Single Cab 2.7 VVTi Raised Body Raider at a gala awards evening held at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
Bam was recognised as the most promising young farmer from a previously disadvantaged background in the 2013 Toyota New Harvest of the Year competition which was run by Toyota SA Motors concurrently to the Agri SA / Toyota SA Young Farmer of the Year competition.
“Farming is a very challenging profession and farmers have to manage a multitude of business areas. To run a successful farm is a big challenge and we would like to recognise and salute farmers like Warren who had overcome even more challenges than the most farmers,” says Calvyn Hamman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Toyota SA Motors.
Bam (44) holds a Diploma in Marketing and Sales Management, farms on the farm Lushof in the Tulbach area in the Western Cape and has been on this farm for the past nine years. He farms with table grapes and blue berries which are exported to England and other countries around the world. He was nominated by the South African Table Grape Industry and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.
His nominator mentioned that “He has proven himself as one of the best organic table grape producers in the world. He has proven that farm workers and their children can one day own a farming business and succeed. Bam is an outstanding worker, leader, trustee and farmer.”
While handing him the keys to his new Toyota Hilux, Prof Carlu van der Westhuizen spoke very highly of Bam, “His financial control of this farm is impeccable. This is a very important part of farming as it lays the foundation of a successful farm. He further impressed the judging panel with his marketing ability which enabled him to secure a contract to export his product to England, a fine feat for this farmer.”
Prof Carlu added, “Bam has learned and demonstrated the skill to bring new vineyards from scratch to full production. He has superior financial management skills and budgets for the whole farm and administers it. He manages a workforce of 500 people. He exports most of his blueberries to England and table grapes to the USA, UK, Canada and Europe and he owes his success to his passion, exposure to the right people and the ability to make full use of the opportunities he has been afforded.”
The other finalists in the Toyota SA New Harvest Competition and their nominators were:
Keith Middleton farms in the Jacobsdal (Free State) area with maize, wheat, potatoes, lucerne, cattle and sheep. He was nominated by the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Anna Phosa farms in the Sedibeng (Gauteng) area with dry-land and irrigation yellow maize, pigs, natural pastures and also manages an abattoir. She was nominated by the South African Pig Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO).
André Cloete farms in the Caledon (Western Cape) area with sheep, apples and pears. He was nominated by Hortgro.
Nicolaas Slinger farms in the Clanwilliam (Western Cape) area with rooibos tea, sheep and ostriches. He was nominated by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.
