Silver Fern Farms Announce Winners of Plate to Pasture Youth Scholarships 2018
L-R Rob Hewett, Louise Schwass, Lucy Hewitt, Monique Yule, Chloe Hannah, Chloe Saxton, George Blyth
Dunedin Monday 1 October 2018: Six inspirational young people from around New Zealand have been named as the Silver Fern
Farms Plate to Pasture Youth Scholarships recipients for 2018. Each winner received $5000 to further their careers in
the red meat sector.
Silver Fern Farms Chief Executive Simon Limmer says he is delighted to see the passion young New Zealanders have shown
for the red meat industry through the applications submitted to the annual scholarship programme.
“We want to thank all applicants for entering the Plate to Pasture Youth Scholarships, the calibre of the entries was
high and showed great initiative and insights into our industry, at all levels. Through the scholarships we have
connected with the industry’s emerging talent who want to contribute to a sustainable future for our red meat sector –
from plate to pasture.”
This year applicants were asked to describe their ‘Big Idea’ for the red meat industry, as well as naming three
challenges or opportunities they believe are important to the sector. Their answers ranged from developing niche markets
for toddlers and the elderly, remodelling traditional cow breeding programmes and engaging with the education sector to
encourage young New Zealanders to look at our industry for careers.
Simon Limmer says, “Silver Fern Farms is very proud to be supporting the future of farming and the communities where we
live and work. The scholarships support our vision: Inspirational Food created by Passionate People. It’s an important
opportunity for us to support our emerging leaders who will shape the future of our industry.”
Applicants were required to have a Silver Fern Farms shareholder support them, Silver Fern Farms Co-operative Co-chair
Rob Hewett says, “We are very grateful to our Co-operative shareholders who supported their applications. We believe
that connecting our farmers and the young talent we have discovered through the Plate to Pasture Scholarships is key to
building a sustainable future for the industry.”
This year’s winners of the Silver Fern Farms Plate to Pasture Youth Scholarships are:
• Chloe Saxton - Upper North Island
• Monique Yule - Western North Island
• Lucy Hewitt - Eastern North Island
• Louise Schwass - Upper South Island
• George Blyth - Lower South Island
• Chloe Hannah – Judges Choice
ENDS