CEO, Grain SA
AS THE CURTAIN IS DRAWN ON ANOTHER YEAR, WE PAUSE TO BREATHE, REFLECT, AND GIVE THANKS. FOR THOSE OF US PRIVILEGED TO SERVE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, IT IS A DEEPLY FELT MOMENT OF GRATITUDE THAT REMINDS US OF THE ORDAINED STEWARDSHIP FOR PRODUCING FOOD AND SUSTAINING LIVELIHOODS.
The close of the year brings one of the most special and celebrated moments in the Grain SA calendar: the Grain Producer of the Year Awards and the Golden Grain Awards – a celebration of excellence.
These awards are not about glamour but about survival. They are about excellence and the dependence on nature and God’s mercy. It reminds us that we are stewards, entrusted to multiply our talents and make the land fruitful.
This year’s Golden Grain Awards were a reminder of the calibre of leadership that shapes South African agriculture.
We celebrated Jaco Minnaar, a producer whose integrity and leadership show responsibility and service that combine science, faith, and humility in pursuit of sustainable farming. His work across Grain SA, AgriSA and national commodity trusts reflects his belief that producers are guardians of the land and builders of the nation.
Then we honoured Derek Mathews, whose tenure as Grain SA chairperson was marked by unity, transformation, and vision, strengthening value-chain relationships, farmer development, and sustainability. His reminders to ‘keep doing the right thing’ and that ‘if it is to be, it is up to me’ remain powerful. He served with dignity and courage, leaving a lasting mark on our organisation and industry.
We also recognised Jozeph du Plessis with the Inspiration Award: a man whose faith, innovation, and mentorship have uplifted producers nationwide. His journey shows that excellence and humility can coexist.
Through two decades of service to Grain SA and his pioneering work in soybeans and cotton, he has shown true leadership.
Stewardship: a sacred calling
Our producers work with creation itself. Farming is a privileged profession, connecting humanity to God’s creation. As Psalm 19:1 says, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’ For those who till the land, the sun, rain and soil teach faith, patience, and humility daily.
Producers know the reality of working at the mercy of nature and God. This dependence reminds us that we are stewards, not owners. As seen in the parable, our talents are gifts to be multiplied through insight, endurance, and creativity, making the land fruitful.
Our members’ success is not only visible in full silos, but in the respect that they earn through how they use their God-given talents. Behind every such producer stand a family and team whose faith, patience, and love form the foundation that sustains them and the sector.
The late Prof Mohammad Karaan reflected that producers are the moral fibre and foundation of society. Today, as corruption and self-interest threaten our nation, the integrity, discipline, and hard work of producers offer a vital example of hope. Ours is a sector of faith, perseverance, and accountability. Producers carry the duty to build, feed and nurture – not only crops, but communities. Every act of fairness, every job created and every hectare restored is an act of leadership. This is why the Grain Producer of the Year Awards are not about self-congratulation but about reflecting on what we can be.
Congratulations to our Grain Producer of the Year, Hansie Viljoen and his family, for setting the standard and expanding the boundaries of possibility in grain production. You are inspirational and worthy leaders in our industry.
The season of Christmas offers a fitting conclusion to this reflection. It is a time of gratitude, renewal, and hope – a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, who brought light into darkness and peace into turmoil. As we gather with loved ones, we are reminded that our work as producers, leaders, and citizens is part of something greater. It is a living testimony of faith through action.
May this festive season bring rest, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose. May it remind us that every act of planting and harvesting is part of God’s larger plan. And may the new year bring fresh opportunities to serve, to lead and to grow – together.
From all of us at Grain SA, thank you for walking this journey with us through another year of challenge and accomplishment.
May 2026 be a year of abundant rain, strong crops, sound markets, and steadfast hearts.
