Jedri and Michris Janse van Rensburg. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
This year’s entries in the Boereplanne competition at the Nampo Harvest Day not only showed engineering prowess from old to young, but also proved anew that South Africans do not back down from a problem.
Jedri Janse van Rensburg, a Sol-Tech student from Bultfontein in the Free State who participated in this prestigious competition for the first time this year, collected two awards.
He won the tertiary division with his fancy vacuum cleaner seed meter and in a separate category achieved third place for his automatic cattle/sheep sprayer.
His father, Michris, also won two awards for his lawn planter and vehicle sanitation system.
Jedri Janse van Rensburg of Bultfontein in the Free State. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Bertus Goosen and his daughter Nicoline, who are already well-known participants in this competition, received a total of seven awards.
This cattle farmer from Botswana took part in the competition for the 24th time this year and previously won several prizes in various categories of the competition. He registered 11 patents this year.
Bertus demonstrates one of his patents. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Maroela Media reported earlier this week that Goosen has carried a pocket book with him since 1982 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.
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. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Jan van Sandwyk won the commercial division this year with his “boresecure” patent and next year will receive a stand for a stall at the harvest day as part of his prize.
Jan van Sandwyk won the commercial division this year with his “boresecure” patent. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
Andre and Daleen Dippenaar won the category for machinery, implements and agricultural equipment with their “Spare Air Dynamics” plan.
Dippenaar says the idea for it arose after their neighbor near their farm was overpowered and robbed by attackers when she had to change her spare tire on the side of the road.
He started thinking of ideas and that’s how his patent was born.
Andre and Daleen Dippenaar’s patent. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
“People buy vehicles that are worth thousands of rands, but never check if the spare tire is still OK. This patent is something that anyone can use. It is simple, cheap and something that I would recommend everyone should have in their vehicle to help them out of an uncomfortable situation.”
The patent consists of a pipe that is connected to the chassis of a car or bakkie and then connects to the vehicle’s fuel valve so that the spare wheel can be easily pumped up every time fuel is poured in.
(Photo: Elisma van der Watt/ Maroela Media)
More than 30 patents were registered this year. Among the entries there was also a “polishing patent” which made 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.