July 2024: Despite what the movies tell us, pursuing a dream takes guts, dedication and spades of hard work. Sometimes there are stumbling blocks that delay a dream from coming true, perhaps the timing isn’t quite right, or there are no financial means to pursue it. But, if you can make it happen, despite the odds, the payoff is rewarding.

Meet Johann Van Wijk, section manager at Beefmaster Group, who is living proof of this sentiment. Agriculture has been a passion of his since growing up in Ficksburg the Eastern Free State, culminating in having worked in the industry for over 17 years. However, he only recently achieved his dream of obtaining a master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture. 

“While I was fortunate to get a BCom degree from the University of the Free State after matriculating in Bloemfontein, I always dreamed of obtaining an agricultural degree to further expand my knowledge. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right and I didn’t have the financial means to obtain this goal,” says Johann. 

When he started his career at Beefmaster Group in 2018, the company soon realised his potential, and plans were put in motion to financially support him to reach his dream. Johann recognised the value of combining his extensive experience as a section manager with a formal education to deepen his knowledge. 

He is responsible for overseeing the garden team, maintaining the feedlot’s cleanliness, managing security and irrigation. He plants various crops under irrigation, including pastures for backgrounding, maize for silage and an intercropping system with sunflowers. 

With the help of Beefmaster, Johann was able to study further and obtained his Master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture in 2024, and received the Academic Award for achieving the highest marks in his final exam.  This program focused on advanced practices that balance environmental health, economic viability, and social equity – a perfect fit for Johann’s goals.

“I wanted to combine my extensive agricultural experience with a degree that supports it, but the path to success was challenging as I needed to balance work and studying.” 

The demanding nature of his role, particularly during planting season, often left him with limited study time.

“It was a juggling act, but it allowed me to effectively balance my work responsibilities and academic pursuits, keeping me on track towards my goals.”

While his current role involves both agricultural and managerial duties, ensuring efficient operations in crop production, livestock feeding, and maintaining a secure and orderly environment for the company, he plans to use the knowledge he gained to help implement management of systems that reduce environmental impact, improve farm profitability, and promote fair practices and address global food security and sustainability challenges.

“Additionally, my education will empower me to advocate for and implement sustainable practices that benefit the company’s long-term profitability.”

As the saying goes, ‘The right time is now.’ Johann’s journey is proof that with dedication and the right support, even long-held dreams can blossom, no matter the season.

Over the last five years, Beefmaster Group has helped more than 8 employees achieve their dreams by providing bursary or studying support, which in turn also promotes skills advancement in the agricultural industry.