PAARL, Western Cape – At a prestigious event during the Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer Gala Evening in Paarl, Agri Western Cape proudly announced Richard Hutton-Squire from the Elgin-Grabouw region as the winner of the coveted Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year 2026 competition. The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, personally presented the trophy to the winner – a recognition of Hutton-Squire’s outstanding contribution to the young farming community. As the provincial winner, he now advances to the National Young Farmer of the Year Competition, where he will represent the Western Cape among South Africa’s finest young farmers.
The Gala Evening in Paarl
The Agri Western Cape Young Farmer Gala Evening was a celebration of the province’s young agricultural talent. Representatives from headline sponsor Santam, national sponsor Toyota, Agri Western Cape management, and the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, attended the event. Minister Meyer presided over the highlight of the evening’s proceedings by presenting the trophy to Hutton-Squire, underscoring the provincial government’s strong commitment to the development of young farmers.
About the Winner
Richard Hutton-Squire (40) is a young farmer from the fertile Elgin-Grabouw Valley, a region internationally renowned for its world-class apple and pear production. Hutton-Squire farms apples and pears with passion and dedication – crops that require meticulous management, technical expertise, and long-term planning. His participation in this competition demonstrated not only his agricultural excellence, but also his leadership qualities and vision for the future of South African agriculture.
“Young farmers are the ones that are going to take this forward. Young farmers are very important in the long term. I learned that you only get out what you put in – that is why it is very important to put in the effort and hours. It may not seem great at first, but you will see the results.”– Richard Hutton-Squire, Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year 2026
The Importance of Young Farmers in the Western Cape
The Western Cape is the backbone of South Africa’s agricultural sector and makes a significant contribution to the country’s food security and export earnings. This dynamic province is home to diverse agricultural industries, ranging from fruit and wine production to grain, vegetable, and livestock farming. However, the sector faces a critical challenge: the ageing profile of farmers and the urgent need to attract and retain a new generation of agricultural professionals.
Young farmers are not merely the future of agriculture – they are its present. They bring fresh ideas, new technologies, and entrepreneurial energy to an industry that must continuously adapt to climate change, market pressures, and regulatory requirements.
The Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year Competition embodies this commitment to recognising, inspiring, and empowering young talent. By creating platforms such as this, Agri Western Cape, Santam, and Toyota are directly investing in the long-term sustainability of the province’s agricultural sector.
