WESTERN CAPE FARM WORKER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION: 2013
The competition was initiated in order to acknowledge the valuable and important
contribution that farm workers make to the sustainability and growth of the
agricultural sector in South Africa.
It is the vision of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to first present the
competition at provincial level and then at national level.
1.
Background
With the financial support of Sanlam, the competition was initiated in 2002 in the Hex
Valley, by the Hex Valley Table Grape Association. In 2005, the Western Cape
Department of Agriculture became a co-sponsor of the competition and the
competition was then registered. The competition grew from 36 entries in the Hex
Valley in 2002 to the participation of 15 regions with 887 entries in 2012. Shoprite
started to support the competition financially in 2012 and Shoprite and the Western
Cape Department of Agriculture are now co-sponsors of the competition.
2.
Categories
General Worker
Tractor Driver
Administrative Personnel
Animal Production
Technical Operator
Irrigation Specialist
Social Development * (new category)
Junior Management
Middle Management
Senior Management
NB: A winner, runner-up and second runner-up are selected in each category. (See
also the description of each category on page 5.)
3.
Nominations
All farm workers may participate. A farm worker is any person who forms part of and
makes a contribution to farming. The employer, management/farm committee or
fellow workers can nominate farm workers for the competition.
4.
Entries
Some regions charge a small entry fee (R20) to help cover the costs of the prizegiving function. Each entry must be accompanied by a full job description of the
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farm worker. Farm workers, who were entered the previous year, may be entered
again. A winner in a specific category may not participate again the following year
in the same category, but may participate in a higher category. A winner in a
higher category (Senior Management) may only participate again after three years.
5.
Motivation
A short motivation for the nomination should be written on the attached form.
Adjudicators must please pay attention to the qualifications of the person in relation
to the position that he/she has attained – we have come across a person with a
Grade 5 qualification who is a farm manager! Hence, if the person has a very low
qualification, but occupies a good position on the farm, he/she should, therefore,
obtain a very good mark for this achievement and it should not count against
him/her. Upon receipt of the entries, each farm will receive a code. This is to prevent
the adjudicators from identifying the farms when they consider the merit of the
entries. Candidates may not display the name or logo of the farm on their clothing
or otherwise.
6.
Adjudicators
A panel of at least five (5) adjudicators is compiled of experts on the subjects of their
choice in their field of expertise (what is applicable in one field, may not necessarily
be applicable to another). Adjudicators must ascertain the specific fields of
speciality of the participants. Ensure that the cultural and gender composition of
the panel is acceptable. Take note: An interpreter is essential during the interviews
should entries be received in any of the indigenous languages. It is essential that the
adjudicators have a strong chairperson to ensure that no influencing or discussion of
participants occurs, except in the case of a tie.
Should there be a tie, a second interview with new questions must be held and one
new adjudicator should be included in order to reach a decision.
7.
Questions posed to participant during an Interview
Questions can be compiled on subjects within an agricultural context, such as
health (AIDS, FAS, TB, etc.), black empowerment, communication, transformation,
vision for the future, food safety, labour law, training (literacy), productivity, etc. The
questions can be sent to Danie Niemand of the Western Cape Department of
Agriculture two weeks before the adjudication to be checked and to be referred to
technical experts at the Department.
Questions should preferably be set by one person to ensure confidentiality. He/she
may enlist the help of experts to compile the questions. Each adjudicator will only
know what his/her own question is and will hear the questions of the other
adjudicators for the first time on the day of the ajudication. The correct answers to
technical questions are made known to them at that stage. In the case of
theoretical questions, the chief adjudicator is expected to give objective guidance
in this regard. These questions can be discussed beforehand.
Questions on the various topics are asked at varying levels of complexity, i.e. the
same questions become progressively more difficult as the category moves up.
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However, the way in which the questions are worded MUST be the same for each
participant in the same category
Explanations of the questions are not allowed at all for Middle and Senior
Management. The duration of the interviews last about 15 minutes per person.
Those of Middle and Senior Management can be of a longer duration.
8.
Processing of Scores
Three people process and control the counting of scores (not adjudicators or the
employers of participants). An adjudicator may not be present at the interview if
one of his/her own candidates is participating (adjudicators should preferably not
nominate people). Try to keep the same team of adjudicators for each category.
9.
Acknowledgement (Trophies/Prize Money)
Each participant receives a certificate. The winner, runner-up and 2nd runner-up in
each category receive a cash prize. The runner-up and 2nd runner-up receive a
certificate in a clip frame. The winner in each category, as well as the overall winner
per region, receives a trophy.
Farm Worker of the Year (region)
Winner (per category)
Runner-up (per category)
2nd Runner-up (per category)
:
:
:
:
R1 700
R1 500
R900
R700
Meghan Cupido and Erika Manho-Damons at the Western Cape Department of
Agriculture will handle the above. To have the certificates printed and the trophies
made, please use the attached form to submit the required details at least two to
three weeks ahead of time. Please ensure that the participants’ names are spelled
correctly.
Merit awards will be allowed. Each region will make its own decisions in this regard
and will also be responsible for the cost of these trophies. Should a region wish to
add an extra category, or present any other form of acknowledgement at the
regional competition, final approval/permission must be obtained from Danie
Niemand.
10.
Function
The announcement of the winners is made at an exceptionally elegant function.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture will contribute the following amounts
for the function (VAT included):



0–30 participants: R20 000 + R2 000 (administration fee).
31–70 participants: R25 000 + R2 000 (administration fee).
70+ participants:
R30 000 + R2 000 (administration fee).
Your function should be arranged within the scope of these funds, otherwise any
excess will be for your account.
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Other sponsors are allowed and may advertise by means of their own banners.
However, the onus is on the regions whether they want to allow these sponsor a
speaking opportunity during the function. Only sponsors who are not in competition
with the main sponsors – BMW, Agri, etc. – are allowed.
If you wish to invite Minister van Rensburg to the function, this must be timeously
arranged by Danie Niemand’s office. Include farm workers in the programme for
the evening, e.g. as master of ceremonies.
11.
Awarding of Prizes
Prizes are awarded from third to first place. At the end of the ceremony, as the
highlight of the evening, the winners in each category will make an impromptu
speech.
12.
Media
Invite the media to the function to try to get as much press coverage as possible.
The positive aspects of the competition mean a great deal to agriculture in the
Western Cape. After their competition, each region is responsible for providing
Agriculture: Western Cape with photographs and copies of all media coverage
(cuttings from newspapers).
Attached is an example of a memorandum to announce the competition, a
nomination form, an adjudicator’s form and an order form for certificates/trophies.
Provincial Competition
Participants:
 All category winners (1st place per category);
 best potential nominations; and
 regional winners.
Each category winner receives:
 R3 000 prize money;
 a framed certificate; and
 a trophy.
The best potential winner receives:
 R10 000 prize money;
 a framed certificate; and
 a trophy.
The overall winner (Western Cape Farm Worker of the Year) receives:
 R20 000 prize money;
 a framed certificate;
 a trophy;
 a study course sponsored by the University of Stellenbosch to the value of
R20 000; and
 an overseas study tour sponsored by the Western Cape: Department of
Agriculture to the value of R50 000
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The overall winner also becomes a member of Minister Gerrit van Rensburg’s Prestige
Farm Worker Forum. This forum meets with Minister on a quarterly basis to discuss
farm worker related issues.
DESCRIPTION OF EACH CATEGORY
General Worker
Someone who can perform all tasks at grassroots level.
Administrative Personnel
This could include someone who
-
mans an office full-time;
does office administration;
operates a loading bridge;
operates a stock room; or
operates a packing store
Technical Operator
This person is a specialist with a technical function.
This could include
-
a pest control officer;
an orchard monitor;
a cellar worker; or
a mechanic.
Irrigation Specialist
This is a person who is responsible for all irrigation activities, whether manually or by
computer/electronically.
Tractor Driver
This person drives the tractor in the fields.
Animal Production
This person is responsible for the care of small and large stock.
Social Development *
This is a person who is involved in the social development of farm workers and their
families.
This could include
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-
a crèche worker;
a health worker;
an after-care facilitator; or
a community worker.
Junior Management
This person is responsible for the
-
maximum weekly planning;
daily administration.
e.g. team leader, supervisor
Middle Management
This person reports to the Senior Manager and has the following responsibilities:
-
financial;
managing of supervisors;
monthly planning;
management; or
technical.
Senior Management
This person manages a section of or an entire farm and has the following
responsibilities:
-
budgeting;
strategic planning;
external contact/liaison function (PRO); or
strong emphasis on leadership characteristics.
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MEMORANDUM: 2013 FARM WORKER OF THE YEAR-COMPETITION
The Management of ……………………….. hereby invites all the producers in this
region to participate in the Western Cape Farm Worker of the Year competition. The
proven success of the competition in the Hex Valley, Langeberg, Witzenberg and
Berg River regions has motivated us to also offer farm workers in our region a
competition and function to say thank you.
NOMINATIONS
Producers, fellow farm workers or farm committees can nominate participants.
Note: Who qualifies for nomination? Any person who works on a farm.
CATEGORIES:
Senior Management
Middle Management
Junior Management
General Worker
Administrative Personnel
Irrigation Specialist
Technical Operator
Tractor Driver
Animal Production
Social Development* (new category)
Take Note:
Persons, who were entered the previous year, may enter again but winners may only
be entered in a higher category.
Management reserves the right to withdraw a category in the event of there not
being enough entries in that specific category. A category will only warrant inclusion
in the competition if a minimum of five (5) entries is received for that category. We
try to keep the competition as inclusive as possible, but we also have to take the
availability of funds into account as the prizes and trophies for each category cost a
considerable amount of money. Remember, only one person per category per farm
can be entered. This means that you might have to follow an internal elimination
process.
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NOMINATION FORM
WESTERN CAPE FARM WORKER OF THE YEAR 2013
Must reach office at fax number……………………
or e-mail………………………….. before ……………..
(the date should be at least one month before the adjudication)
Category: _____________________________________________________________________
Name of nominee: _______________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Contact number: ____________________Number of years’ service on farm: ___________
Qualifications: ___________________________________________________________________
Entry fee: ________________________________________________________________________
Motivation for nomination (why is this person being nominated?)
Please attach a separate job description:
Nominated by:
__________________________
Address:
____________________________
Contact number:
___________________________
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Example of ADJUDICATION FORM
Take Note: The numbers after the names are the codes that have been allocated to
the farms. On no account may adjudicators know from whose farm the entry has
come. Participants may also not display the logo or name of the farm on hats, shirts,
etc. The interviews last approximately 10 to 15 minute per person. This is long
enough and the chairperson must ensure that interviews do not exceed this time.
Participants can be called back if two or more of them achieve the same marks.
Each question is worth 5 points, except for
nominations and personal impressions, which are worth 10 points.
Administrative Personnel – 5 May at 16:15
Name
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Nomination Form
Personal
Impressions
Total
Jacinda
Isaacs
4
Katrina
Arendse
36
Cathlone
Beerwinkel
2
Dorone van
Wyk 3
Sophie Smit
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PARTICULARS FOR CERTIFICATES/TROPHIES : FORM
Western Cape Farm Worker of the Year 2013: Regional Competition
REGION: Berg River
NAME:
TITLE:
Jack Wittles
Chairperson
ORGANISATION: Berg River Table Grape Association
This information appears on the certificate. Provide the information in both English and
Afrikaans as certificates are bilingual
Category
Name
Surname
Placement
General Worker
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Administrative Personnel
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Irrigation Specialist
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Technical Operator
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Tractor Driver
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Social Development
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Junior Management
Winner
Runner-up
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2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Middle Management
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Senior Management
Winner
Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
Participant
Participant
Farm Worker of the Year
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