From general worker to provincial champion: Raymond Weels wins top agri award

Raymond Weels, a former general worker who spent nearly three decades in the agricultural sector, has been named the overall winner of the 2026 Western Cape Prestige Agri Awards. Weels received the province’s top honour for farmworkers at a gala ceremony in Durbanville, highlighting his journey from a general worker to floor manager at Graham Beck Wines.

His motivation for the award comes from the opportunity to help others develop and grow, encouraging other agri workers to participate in the competition. The 2026 competition attracted 1,380 entrants from 16 regions, with 167 finalists progressing to the provincial round. Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, praised the contribution of agricultural workers to the provincial economy, stating that the awards bring visibility to the workers who contribute to food security and export markets.

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