Jedri Janse van Rensburg, also a new participant, registered two patents this year and his vacuum cleaner-seed meter is already attracting great interest from farmers. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Among this year’s entries at the Farm Plans competition at Nampo, there is a “polishing patent” that makes visitors laugh.
This patent, which is not officially part of the competition, is exhibited by a well-known face of the competition – but under a pseudonym. In “grandmother’s knitting and sewing box” there is a surprise that will frighten the curious from old to young.
But let’s not reveal the secret.
More than 30 entries were received for this year’s competition, and Bertus Goosen and his daughter Nicoline from Botswana have entered a total of 15 patent designs.
Goosen says that since 1982 he has carried a pocket book with him and if he thinks of an idea for a possible patent or is approached for help by a farmer in the area, he draws a picture in his book and makes notes so that one day he may be able to design the patent.
Bertus demonstrates one of his patents. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Nicoline Goosen, Bertus’ daughter. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
“I often go through my notebooks to check which patents I haven’t made yet. Most of my patents that I register I have made years in advance and use them myself before they are registered. Sometimes I make the patent products and give them to people who need them and ask for them back just to come and exhibit them at Nampo,” says Goosen.
Since 1982, Goosen has had a pocket book with him and if he thinks of an idea for a possible patent or is approached for help by a farmer in the area, he draws a picture in his book and makes notes so that one day he may be able to design the patent. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Werner Dreyer from Bloemfontein is taking part in this prestigious competition for the first time this year and has designed a fancy scrum machine that can help rugby players improve their scrum technique and body position.
Jedri Janse van Rensburg from Bultfontein in the Free State, also a new participant, registered two patents this year and his vacuum cleaner seed meter is already attracting great interest from farmers.
(Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
André Dippenaar from Naboomspruit registered his Sparerepair Dynamics patent.
The winners are expected to be announced on Thursday afternoon and a combined prize money of R50 000 is at stake.
Werner Dreyer’s fancy scrum machine. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)