My name is Cakata Banoxolo, and I am turning 21 years old. I was born in the province of the Eastern Cape in a village by the name of Nyandeni near the small town of Libode. I passed matric in 2021 and did farming management (N4 to N6) at Elangeni TVET (Mpumalanga Campus). I'm interested in growing and developing more knowledge about agriculture, and animal production is what I am passionate about.

I'm currently placed at Kameelkop Nature Reserve, and my job is about taking care of cows. The farm is about beef production dealing with Nguni, Boran and Drakensburg breeds. Gaining experience on how to care for animals, also allows me to grow as a person.

I have grown as a person and as an employee. I am able to identify problems in cattle and act without being directed by someone else. I ensure that the cattle are in healthy condition and receive a proper diet.

One of the challenging aspects on the farm are predators, as the cows are inside the nature reserve. There are some wild animals and people who hunt for different kinds of animals. As the group working on the farm we are required to keep the cows safe at all cost, and we are serious about protecting the cows.

My advice to new Future Farmers is to be humble, work hard and to not look down on the elder people you will find on the farm. They may not have the kind of education you have but they can help you build yourself with proper skills, detailed knowledge and how to overcome problems you may encounter in future. Also, save money!

Future Farmers has helped me by finding a place on a farm for me when I could not find it by myself. I have also gained knowledge about internships abroad in countries I thought I would never go to.

My plans for the future are to save money from the stipend, finish my internship and start a small-scale sheep and goat farm. I want to test my skill and abilities to take care of, handle and produce good quality animals.