Welcome back, everyone, after the winter holidays. We can all agree that this year has brought a cold, dry winter. The mist lies thick in the mornings, and the air is icy cold. Put the kettle on, make yourself a nice hot cup of coffee, and read on to catch up with all the latest news from the centre.

In June, we once again celebrated Youth Day. The Afrikaans Leaders' Day was another exciting event. Next up is Women's Day, and we look forward to celebrating it with the women once more.
It is also that time of year that always stands out as a major highlight: the Witzenberg Prestige Agricultural Awards. And who is this year's winner? Read the full story below.

The 2026 Witzenberg Prestige Agricultural Awards, held on 30 July at Kaleo, celebrated the people who form the heart of the Witzenberg agricultural sector. With 118 participants competing across nine categories, the evening once again recognised excellence, dedication and professionalism in agriculture.
As coordinator of the awards since 2003, the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre is proud to be part of an event that acknowledges and celebrates the valuable contributions of agricultural workers. We extend our sincere thanks to the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, which drives this competition, as well as Shoprite for their joint sponsorship and support.
The evening also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre - a significant milestone highlighting the importance of people development. Over the past 25 years, the centre has equipped thousands of people through training and skills development, empowering them with the confidence, knowledge and leadership skills needed to make a meaningful contribution to the agricultural sector.
In her address, Chief Executive Officer Carmen Roberts said that the greatest success of agriculture always begins with people. She paid tribute to producers, partners, facilitators, staff members and, above all, the agricultural workers who move the industry forward every day.
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Special congratulations to Justin Baartman of Romansrivier (Graaff Fruit), who was named the Witzenberg Agricultural Worker of the Year 2026. Justin's journey from general worker to middle management is an inspiring example of how dedication, hard work and continuous development are rewarded.
With 25 years of experience, the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre remains committed to investing in people alongside its partners, contributing to a stronger and more sustainable agricultural sector.
Click on the link for the full list of winners and 25 year’s timeline.
 

Approximately 390 learners attended our annual Youth Day this year. The day was filled with inspiring messages and powerful testimonies that captivated and encouraged the learners.

It is remarkable how much learners can gain from such a day. The impact of this event extends far beyond the proceedings themselves and contributes to the positive development of our youth.

While you might still be wondering what Women’s Day holds this year, we are already hard at work behind the scenes curating a day filled with inspiration, laughter, music, and meaningful moments. Meet our speakers:
Haidee Muller-Isaacs is a well-known RSG radio personality, documentary producer, and storyteller with a passion for people and their unique life stories. After a successful career as a journalist at *Huisgenoot*, she found her calling in the radio industry, where she inspires listeners by sharing the stories of ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
Shirley Olivier, from the Suid-Oosterfees, is renowned for her involvement with one of the Western Cape’s premier arts festivals and her passion for bringing people together through art, culture, and community projects.
Akhona Vuta will also be joining us to discuss the importance of self-care, how it goes hand-in-hand with stress management, and its impact on effective parenting.
Bring along your friends, colleagues, mother, daughter, or sister, and get ready for a day to remember. Contact Landi at landi@kbos.co.za to register.

With the first half of the year successfully behind us, the Centre’s staff gathered for a team-building session to look back, reflect, and plan for the future. Under the theme “Cultivating High Performance Teams: Align and Attune to Accelerate,” we focused on building strong, purposeful teams ready to grow together and strive for excellence. The day included valuable discussions, planning, and the refinement of operational plans to further strengthen our operations for the training season ahead after the holidays.