Franschhoek honours its farm workers

The Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourist Association has given recognition to the Franschhoek Vignerons farm workers by awarding the Farm Worker of the Year Award at the 2010 Oesfees at Solms Delta. The aim of the award is to establish role models for farm workers and in doing so encourage service excellence.

In what has become a prestigious award in the community to be held on an annual basis, vignerons members were asked to nominate one or more of their farm workers.  Members of staff at the participating farms were also given the opportunity to nominate a colleague.

Participants were interviewed by an independent panel of judges and all the candidates were awarded a training programme funded by the wine industry to promote their careers. The training programme will be completed in consultation with their employers, as well as the panel of judges.

A few of the attributes the panel were looking for were dedication, responsibility, knowledge, interpersonal relations and community participation.

Jacques Daniels of Franschhoek Pass Winery was the overall winner, who also received cash, gift vouchers and a trophy. His fellow nominees included Susan Davids (Glenwood), Paul April (La Bri), Clive Cupido (Mont Rochelle), Saul Willemse (Mont Rochelle), Andries van der Westhuizen (Plaisir de Merle), Frederick Fischer (Solms Delta) and Jeffrey van der Merwe (Solms Delta).

ENDS