Our Students Triumph in National Farmplanner Competition
The Kingston Maurward College team of six Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture Year 2 students has won the final of this year’s annual Farmers Weekly Farmplanner competition, held at Farley Estate in Berkshire.
Four teams were selected for the final from thirteen agricultural college and university teams that entered across the country, ultimately resulting in Kingston Maurward beating degree students from Harper Adams, Newcastle University and Duchy College.
The win is a first for the College, having reached the final twice in the last four years.
The competition began in March, with a visit to the host farm and the tasks for the teams being set, and culminated in an interview last week with a panel of judges including the host farm’s owner Lord Bearstead and Estate Manager Mark Robbins.
Kingston Maurward College Head of Agriculture, Tim Stephens, said: “The team put a huge amount of hard work and professionalism into this task, researching their business plan thoroughly. The win firmly puts Kingston Maurward College on the map as a centre of excellence for practical, technical and management skills for careers in the agricultural industry.”
The panel of five judges, whose decision was unanimous, commented on the high quality of the students’ business case, proposing how Farley Estate could take forward its dairy, beef and arable enterprises, develop redundant farm buildings and improve its environmental stewardship.
Competition sponsor IAgrM (Institute of Agricultural Management) Chairman, Tim Brigstocke, said: “We were most impressed by the winning students’ confident approach and the strong practical examples they gave us based on thorough research with local people.”
The students’ proposals for Farley Estate will be given a double page spread in the Farmers Weekly in the autumn.
Many of the team plan to further develop their management skills by continuing on to the new part-time Level 4 Farm Management course starting at Kingston Maurward College in September.
For further course information contact 01305 215 215 or go to www.kmc.ac.uk
