TLU SA honoured agricultural achievers and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the industry and organised agriculture during its annual congress dinner in Pretoria this evening, 2 September 2026. The awards recognised young agricultural talent, outstanding achievements and many years of service.
The evening’s awards included the Young Farmer and Youth Farmer of the Year, the Nico Kilian Trophy, President’s Awards, honorary membership and the Goliat van Gat Pumpkin Competition.
Bertus Joubert was named TLU SA’s Young Farmer of the Year for 2026, with Gerhard Heinlein in second place and Marissa Solms in third place.
As the winner, Joubert receives the use of a white BYD Shark plug-in hybrid bakkie from Hatfield Motor Group for twelve months. His prize also includes a 36-month technology sponsorship from SmarTime and iNspexia. The sponsorship, which includes software and hardware, is valued at R124 000.
Heinlein receives the use of a white JAECOO J7 sport utility vehicle from Hatfield Motor Group for six months, as well as R30 000 in cash from Santam. Solms receives the use of a silver JAECOO J7 sport utility vehicle from Hatfield Motor Group for six months and R20 000 in cash from Santam.
Jurgens Koen was named Youth Farmer of the Year for 2026. He receives a cash prize of R5 000 from Morgan Group, which also allocated R50 000 towards the continuation and growth of the competition. Design Biologix also gave a R5 000 cash prize.
Wykus Lamprecht was honoured as the winner of the 2026 Goliat van Gat Pumpkin Competition with a pumpkin weighing 653 kg. He receives the floating trophy for the heaviest pumpkin.
The 2026 Nico Kilian Trophy was awarded to Wannie Scribante. This award honours the agricultural personality of the year within TLU SA’s area of operation. The trophy recognises a member who has rendered outstanding service, worked to advance organised agriculture and played an exceptional role in the interests of agriculture during the past year.
TLU SA’s Executive Committee also presented President’s Awards to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of the agricultural industry.
Louwrens Mahoney, Carlo Smuts, Ruan Jordaan and Henry Lubbe were honoured for their Coast to Coast 4 Farmers initiative. Dr Danie Odendaal and Dr Faffa Malan also each received a President’s Award.
These awards recognise contributions to agriculture as a whole or in specific fields, including agricultural science, veterinary science, economics and the organisation of the industry.
Tom Moodie was awarded honorary membership of TLU SA for his many years of service to the organisation and organised agriculture. Honorary membership recognises at least ten years of outstanding service to organised agriculture at national level.
Among other roles, Moodie served as a member of TLU SA’s Management Committee and on the organisation’s finance and LSB committees. He was also a founding board member of TLU Eiendoms Beleggings Beperk and helped ensure that TLU SA could continue operating through difficult financial periods.
The awards evening reflected the congress theme, “Agriculture: Grounded. Protected. Preserved.”, recognising both the new generation of producers and those whose many years of service have helped strengthen organised agriculture.
