The show that uncovers talent on SA's farms

Eight years ago, Hortgro launched Agri’s Got Talent to give the world a glimpse of the ‘real’ people who work in the South African fruit industry and create a means of recognising talents other than those associated with farm work. Wouter Kriel reports on the unfolding of the competition over the years.

- Wouter Kriel

Talent shows are universally popular. The excitement of amateurs given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present their natural talents in front of a large audience with generous prize money and endorsements makes for riveting viewing. Agri’s Got Talent (AGT), an initiative that follows exactly this format, was launched by Hortgro eight years ago and has grown from strength to strength.

People in agriculture are well aware there are gems of natural talent hidden amongst the worker corps.

“You only have to spend a few hours on a farm, and you’ll start hearing songs and tunes drifting in the air. There’s always singing in the orchards and packhouses. It’s part of the culture,” says Astrid Arendse. She and Thea van Zyl are the Hortgro officials who have been part of the AGT organising team for the past few years.

Anton Rabe, Hortgro’s executive director, was looking for a way in which to give more recognition to agricultural employees than the existing platforms that recognised work-related achievements.

“At a time when talent competitions as we know them today weren’t yet as mainstream, Anton came up with the idea of a singing competition for workers in the fruit industry,” recalls Van Zyl. Retha Louw, who is currently CEO of the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa, but was working with Rabe at Hortgro at the time, recalls the birth of AGT.

“Marietjie Bezuidenhout from Procare, a social services entity, hosted a talent evening in 2013. The entertainment was provided by participants from a community project Procare had facilitated. I attended due to sponsorships I’d arranged for the event. AGT was born that evening.”