Grootfontein Student Merino Production Unit – a look back at 2017

MIDDELBURG – The Grootfontein Student Merino Production Unit, under supervision of Willie van Heerden, had an excellent year.

As a final token of appreciation for their loyalty towards merinos, the students received a generous sponsor from South Africa’s MEGA Farmer of 2011, BP Greyling from Wakkerstroom.

As 2011 was Grootfontein’s centenary, these items of clothing will also have special memories to the students when they leave Grootfontein within three weeks, after their diploma ceremony on December 1. According to Greyling, the secret of his successful farming lies not only in the farmer himself, but also in the people on the farm. This secret is also resembled in the Grootfontein Student Merino Production Unit, where “Oom Willie”, Hendrik and the 12 students unite and farm not only for themselves, but as a group to compile the success of this unit. Some of their achievements and experiences of this year were the Veldram sales in January where they sold four rams for a record high price, a laparoscopic artificial insemination course which was presented by Dr Frans Jooste, visits to the Naudé Brothers, Eric and Stefan Naudé and they also attended the Landbouweekblad & Voermol Farmers day for SA’S Farmer of the Year, Julian Southey. Another highlight on their calendar for 2017 was when some of the units bales of ram lamb wool achieved one of the top 10 prices per kilogram during the September/october BKB Wool auctions in Port Elizabeth. Grootfontein Student Merino Production Unit would also like to kindly thank their loyal friends in die Merino Industry: BKB who sponsors the production unit ever year with clothing as well as Merino SA who supports them throughout the year.