HGA LEarn creating value for host farmers

It is encouraging to see that the vast majority (85 %) of our past students have remained in the agricultural sector and a growing number have been offered permanent posts on the farms on which they undertook their training (50 % of those currently employed) with several having moved into leadership roles there.

This suggests that we are finding success in recruiting students who have a genuine desire to pursue a career in agriculture and are committed to proving (and improving) themselves during their in-service training.

Former Rockfontein Farm Senior Manager, Matthew Beauclerk alongside former HGA student and current Junior Manager, Walter Khumalo

This is what host farmer, Buzz Hauff had to say about HGA Learn:

“Students always bring an energy to a business and it helps the staff to have to teach others as it makes them think about what they are doing, how they are doing it and why they are doing it and some really enjoy handing over knowledge.

Of the six students we have had, three of them have worked permanently for us. Walter Khumalo, who was one of our first students, manages our heifers and is doing an extremely good job and is a great asset to the business. Zande Nzimande was doing really well but got married and unfortunately had to move on which was very sad as she was also a great asset. Thabiso Gasa is now a junior manager in one of the dairies and is also stepping up and learning quickly. So on a purely selfish level, HGA Learn has been a great recruiting ground for the business; unearthing some great talent and having the enjoyment of working with young people and hopefully handing over some knowledge to them in the process.

HGA Learn has been a great asset to this business and has worked well and is managed well and we will definitely be making space available for more students going forward.”