At the Women and Young Entrepreneurs Awards 2025, second-generation farmer Resego Njoro lit up the stage with a powerful message, urging young agri-leaders to lead, collaborate and build a sustainable legacy. It was a powerful reminder that farming is about the future; not just about food.
By Maphuti Mongatane, Business Development Manager at African Farming
In a heartfelt and empowering speech, Resego Njoro, Director of Oarabile Holdings and a second-generation farmer from Far North, took to the stage at the Women and Young Entrepreneurs Awards 2025 with a message that reminded everyone in the room why agriculture remains the backbone of transformation in South Africa.
Resego opened by acknowledging the honour of being a previous award recipient. But he was quick to shift the spotlight: “Winning an award is more than just recognition, it’s a reminder that both the soil and our businesses have the power to transform the future.” To the new crop of award winners, he offered a charge: “This award is not a trophy to admire, but a responsibility, a call to lead, to innovate and to inspire the next generation.”
His words struck a chord as he spoke about collaboration over competition, a theme that echoed throughout his speech. “I encourage you to take this recognition as a stepping stone. Collaborate with one another, keep learning and never stop dreaming bigger. Agriculture is a space wide enough for all of us to grow together.”
Farming Is About More Than Food, It’s About The Future
Resego’s vision for agriculture goes beyond production. “Farming is not just about crops or livestock, it’s about building sustainability, preserving culture, nurturing the economy and creating a legacy for the next generation.” He encouraged all young farmers to balance innovation with ancestral wisdom, to embrace technology while respecting the land and to always remember the seed within.
He closed his speech by expressing gratitude to the leaders who make events like this possible. “I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to Honourable MEC Ramokgopa [the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development], the GDARD [Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development] team and all partners who continue to invest in the future of agriculture. You are planting seeds that will grow into a strong, sustainable future and we, the beneficiaries of your vision, do not take that for granted.
“To all the winners, may your hands remain blessed, your visions remain strong and your legacy live far beyond your years. The storms may come, but they never last. What matters is the seed you carry within.”
Resego Njoro’s words are a blueprint for the next generation of agricultural leaders; a reminder that the future is not something we wait for but something we grow – one seed, one step, one season at a time.
