For Jacques Roux, regional development manager from the Free State office of Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP), mentorship has become a lifestyle and a popular topic of conversation. ‘It’s wonderful to see the difference one makes. Sometimes you arrive on a farm where nothing is in a working condition and within three years fences are repaired, implements are clean and in a working condition, animals have gained weight and there is a healthy crop on the fields.’
His interest in agriculture was ignited during his school years. Although Jacques did not grow up on a farm, he spent a lot of time on farms during his school years, as he was at boarding school with farmers’ sons. When his father retired, he bought some land, and Jacques could try his hand at farming.
To learn the agricultural ropes, he spent six months at Glen Agricultural College, but soon realised that he wanted to learn about farming with practical experience and not through books. He started working on farms as a farmworker and later became a farm manager, which fuelled his desire to farm even more.
He later farmed with his brother and a friend near Bethlehem in the Free State, but sadly both his farming partners passed away. This was a turning point for Jacques and a time when he learned a valuable life lesson – if things do not work out, you must get up and keep going. ‘Perhaps this is why I can relate to the farmers in the programme. I have travelled the rocky roads of life. If things don’t work out as you hoped, you can’t give up – you have to get up and try again.’
Jacques trusts that he is making a difference to improve the lives and farming operations of the farmers under his mentorship. He thoroughly enjoys the time he spends with them. One of these farmers is Petrus Ranko Tsotetsi, who was announced as the 2024 Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year.
THE MENTOR AND MENTEE
What has impressed you most about your winning farmer?
Ranko started farming with nothing. He was a mechanic who gave up a secure income to farm when his father passed away. He was without his wife and children to support him, as they stayed in the city, and he made the decision to honour his father by making a success of the farming operation.
Why did you nominate him?
It is actually the second year that I have nominated him – and the second time he was chosen as a finalist. This farmer has built up the farm from scratch. He received nothing for free but bought all his equipment from friends. Everything he owns, is the result of his own hard work and perseverance – and that deserves to be recognised.
What have you learned from Ranko?
The importance of compassion, humility, and gratitude. His thankfulness is something that everyone can take note of. When he received his prize (a brand-new John Deere tractor), he invited everyone who had played a part in his farming success – no matter when it was or how much time they invested – to be part of the celebration. He told his guests that it wasn’t his win, it was the area’s win. He also shared his prize money amongst his farmworkers. He is loved in the community because of these attributes. Ranko is more than a mentee in my life, he is a friend.
FACTS ABOUT THE MENTOR
Name: Jacques Roux
Region: Free State
Position: Joined Grain SA as mentor for the Rural Enterprise and Industrial Development (REID) programme. Became a regional development manager in 2022
Mentors: Johan Roux (father) and Johan Kriel (previous regional manager in the Free State)
THREE CHARACTERISTICS A MENTOR NEEDS
- Patience
- Empathy – mentorship gives insight into people’s circumstances, which changes your perception about them.
- Adaptability – you start to appreciate people’s uniqueness, no matter who they are or what they own.
What is your dream for this winner?
That he will continue to improve and grow asa farmer, but at a steady pace. It is so important to make sure that the farming foundation is established before you start expanding. Ranko agrees and says that before he expands in hectares, he first wants to plant his 210 ha successfully.
