July 27, 2015
The 2015 Rabobank Simplot Young Potato Grower has been announced, with Midlands farmer Jason Cresswell receiving the award at the annual Simplot dinner held at Pier01 Café and Restaurant in Ulverstone week.
2015 marks the tenth year of Rabobank and Simplot’s joint sponsorship of the Young Potato Growers Award, reinforcing both organisations’ acknowledgement and support of the future leaders of the industry.
Proudly announcing the 2015 winner, Rabobank state manager for Tasmania Greg Bott who said Mr Cresswell had been awarded “the gong” for his genuine enthusiasm and commitment towards farming.
“Jason is a hard worker and is clearly passionate about life on the land and farming in general,” Mr Bott said.
“We believe he is a deserving recipient of the 2015 award and wish him every success in his agricultural career. Jason has showed great potential and we have no doubt that he will benefit from the experiences and connections to be made on the Rabobank Farm Managers Program – a course designed for young and dynamic, high calibre farmers such as Jason.”
In 2016, as part of his award, Mr Cresswell will enrol in the Rabobank Farm Managers Program, a course which offers young farmers from across a range of agricultural sectors in Australia and New Zealand the opportunity to develop and enhance their business management skills. Participants take away new skills and techniques with a commercially-driven perspective on farm management to put systems and structures in place to manage growth.
Mr Cresswell, 28, lives on his family property, Quamby View, near Deloraine with his wife Carmen and new-born baby Lily, and operates the business in partnership with his parents.
Quamby View is a fully irrigated 850-acre farm growing predominantly potatoes, peas, carrots, broccoli, wheat and barley, with some grass for dairy heifer agistment. All produce is processed locally.
Passionate about farming and committed to the business for the long-term, Mr Cresswell said he was surprised he was crowned the 2015 Young Potato Grower but thanked his parents, Quamby View staff, Rabobank and Simplot for their support.
“I love what I do – both the lifestyle and the business side of things,” Mr Cresswell said.
“My ambition is to run the property as well as my father has, and his father before him. I think attending the Rabobank Farm Managers Program next year will be a great way to learn how to keep improving things for the future.”
After completing high school, Mr Cresswell pursued a trade for four years but returned home to the family business eight years ago, where he has worked ever since.
“I think it will be important to absorb as much as I can from the Farm Manager Program because I haven’t attended any formal courses since coming back to the farm almost a decade ago,” he said.
“It will be good to observe how others at my age and stage are managing their properties and doing things differently – and perhaps more effectively. You can never stop learning so it will be great to be around a lot of knowledgeable people on the course. I can’t wait.
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world's leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 115 years' experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 41 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 10 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1600 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of Australasia's leading rural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region's food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 94 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Media contacts:
Denise Shaw
Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: 02 8115 2744 or 0439 603 525
Email:
denise.shaw@rabobank.com
Jess Webb
Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: 07 3115 1832 or 0418 216 103
Email:
jess.webb@rabobank.com
