Richard Hutton-Squire (centre) receives his award as the Santam Young Farmer of the Year for the Western Cape. To his left is Ivan Meyer, provincial minister of agriculture, together with Daniela Hutton-Squire (right). Photo: Provided.
Richard Hutton-Squire from the Elgin-Grabouw area has just been named Agri Western Cape Santam’s Young Farmer of the Year for 2026.
The announcement was made on Thursday evening during the organisation’s gala evening in Paarl, where the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Ivan Meyer, presented the trophy to Hutton-Squire.
As provincial winner, Hutton-Squire now advances to the national Young Farmer of the Year competition.
The 40-year-old Hutton-Squire farms apples and pears in the Elgin-Grabouw region, which is known for its fruit industry.
According to him, young farmers play a key role in the agricultural industry’s future.
“Young farmers are the ones who will take things forward and are very important for the long term. I have learned that you only get what you put in – that is why it is very important to put in the effort and hours. It may not be fun at the beginning, but you will definitely see the results,” he said during the reception of his award.
Agri Western Cape says the competition aims to recognize and promote young agricultural talent amid challenges such as climate change, market pressure and the need to attract a new generation of farmers to the sector.
The Western Cape makes a significant contribution to South Africa’s agriculture, with industries ranging from fruit and wine production to grain, vegetable and livestock.
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