•••• IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chris Schoonwinkel
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
FARMING ACTIVITIES Chris describes his farming activities as 98 % dry land crop farming and 2 % cattle farming . He has approximately 1 800 hectares which can be planted , but they usually plant 1 200 hectares of maize , 270 hectares of wheat and 150 hectares of sunflower , with the rest , 10 % to 15 % of the lands , being fallow fields .
However , the past year has been difficult and they only planted 200 hectares of maize , and obviously sunflower and wheat .
EXPANSION OF CROP FARMING Chris says that they are fairly conservative and after the good 2002 / 2003 year they started to expand . The biggest expansion was done a decade ago , in 2007 .
FARM WORKERS Respect is the most important factor in the relationship between a producer and his employees . “ There should always be a large measure of respect . I respect my workers and expect the same from them . Another important aspect is that you have to be able to trust them . In order to trust them to do the work , you have to make sure that they are fully informed .” Chris says that he is lucky to have a low turnover amongst his employees . A number of them have been on the farm for up to 20 years and a number of their relatives also work on the farm . He has ten permanent employees and four seasonal workers .
FAMILY Chris has been married to Lizette for 22 years and they have three children : Louis , William and Benita . Louis is a second year B . Com Actuarial
Vom Eisenwacht KUSA Reg . 1028906
Rottweilers
Ons teel met die eerste generasie afstammelinge van top bloedlyne , wêreldklas werkhonde , asook ingevoerde bloedlyne . Albei ouers het HD en ED gesondheidsertifikate . Bespreek jou hond nou : puppy @ rottweilerza . co . za
Ernst : 084 9151 459 www . rottweilerza . co . za student , William is a first year B . Sc Agric student and Benita is a grade 10 learner at the Oranje School for Girls in Bloemfontein .
The family enjoys everything involved with arms , from clay pigeon shooting to bow hunting . A part of the farm De Rots is right next to the Vaal River , which means that the family does a lot of water sports .
ADVICE TO OTHER YOUNG FARMERS “ The first thing is that we do not farm with maize . We actually farm with moisture . The water table levels of all our lands are between 1.5 m to 3 m . I can give a lot of advice but an important piece of advice is that your cash flow situation should be positive at all times .”
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WELGEGUND The farm Welgegund in the Wesselsbron district is exactly between Wesselsbron and Hoopstad , 22 km from Wesselsbron and 24 km from Hoopstad . His farm is on the border of the two Free State towns .
The story of the Hoopstad boer hero , Japie Greyling , unfolded on the neighbouring farm . The older people will remember the 10-year old little boy who refused to reveal the whereabouts of his father Barend ’ s commando in 1901 during the Anglo-Boer War . The British captain , Jack Sealy , shook his hand and documented the event in his book Fear and be Slain .
The farm and the area are rich in history and we believe that more history will be made by the third generation producers .
22
Chris is a John Deere supporter .
The farm house at Welgegund .
FEB / MAR 2017 • SENWES Scenario