2024 Spirit of Excellence Awards

Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship

In memory of Peter and Wendy Olsen

Sponsored by the Department for Environment and Water 

2024 Winner: Congratulations to Tim Paschke

(L-R) Tim Herrmann - Sustainable Soils, The Department for Environment and Water, Tim Paschke (Winner – Waikerie) and Janette Ridgway, Chair, The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia.

Aim

To provide farmers (aged 18-45) in South Australia with the opportunity to improve personal and professional skills that will benefit the industry, the individual in their own business or employment and the sustainability of natural resources that underpin primary production.

Purpose

The Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship for Farmers (The Scholarship) may be used for study tours, courses or further study or assist to directly fund their commencement of a specific project.

Funding

The Scholarship is made possible from funding from the Department for Environment and Water (DEW)  and offers an $10,000 grant to the successful recipient. DEW is committed to supporting communities and industry to make decisions and take action to ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources

Eligibility

The Scholarship is open to all young South Australian farmers between the ages of 18-45 who have been involved in farming, as their principal activity for the past 12 months.

Selection

Selection of the recipient will be based upon the applicant’s abilities, achievements and motivation to succeed in a primary production career (agriculture, horticulture, viticulture or aquaculture).

The recipient will need to demonstrate competency in a range of farming and interpersonal skills and will be expected to work within his/her chosen industry while holding The Scholarship.

Finalists will then be selected and interviewed by the selection panel.

We thank the Department for Environment and Water  for their ongoing support of the Agricultural Bureau of SA's Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards night and the Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship.

2024 Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship finalists & winner. (L-R) Monika McArthur - Meadows (finalist), Hugh Teate - Koppamurra (finalist), Jasper Ball – Littlehampton (finalist), Tim Herrmann - Sustainable Soils, The Department for Environment and Water, Tim Paschke – Waikerie (winner) and Nicholas Mignanelli – Hindmarsh Teirs (finalist).

Rural Youth Bursary

Sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries & Regions SA

2024 Winner: Congratulations to Emily Weir

(L-R) Reuben Pharaoh-Woodlands, Policy Officer – Industry, Strategy & Policy, The Department of Primary Industries & Regions SA, Emily Weir (Winner – Macclesfield) and Janette Ridgway, Chair, The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia.

2024 Rural Youth Bursary finalists & winner. (L-R) Renea Kretschmer - Wirrabara (finalist), Stephanie Lokan – Murray Bridge (finalist), Emily Weir – Macclesfield (winner) and Charlotte Poker – Cherry Gardens (finalist)

Lois Harris Scholarship

The Agricultural Bureau of South Australia provides a scholarship to encourage senior high school students to consider undertaking agricultural studies at tertiary level in South Australia.

The $2000 Lois Harris Scholarship is awarded to a first year student studying the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Adelaide. The scholarship is named in memory of Lois Harris, a member of the Advisory Board of Agriculture from 1995 to 1998, who died in 1998.

Guidelines

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide $2000 to a first-year student studying in the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences Course at the University of Adelaide.

One scholarship will be available each year, subject both to the availability of funds and students of sufficient merit.

Eligible students must have undertaken Year 12 studies in South Australia and be enrolled full-time in the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences Course at the University of Adelaide. To be eligible, students must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Holders of other major scholarships for commencing students are ineligible for the scholarship. Selection will be based on the TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank) or equivalent, on the recommendation of the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies after consultation with the Board of the Agricultural Bureau of SA. 

Subject to the other provisions, the scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis. It will be paid in two equal installments after the HECS Census date. The second installment will be subject to continued enrolment in that year and satisfactory performance in first semester.

A scholarship may be suspended at any time if the Faculty of Sciences is not satisfied with the scholar's progress and it may be terminated at any time if, in the opinion of the University, the scholar is guilty of misconduct.

These rules may be changed by the Agricultural Bureau of SA Board from time to time.

Students cannot apply themselves.

Services to Primary Production Award

Sponsored by the Agricultural Bureau of SA

The Services to Primary Production Award, established in 1999, recognised the achievements of people who provided exceptional service to primary production over a significant period of time.