Meet Hanco Marais, a remarkable individual who recently completed his studies in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management. Hanco also won the award for overall best undergraduate student at the 2023 Autumn graduation ceremony, and he is a recipient of the AEASA award. In an enlightening interview, he shares his insights on the importance of agricultural studies, his enjoyable experiences during his degree, the invaluable lessons learned, and his encouragement for the younger generation to embrace the field.

What did you study and why did you choose the field?

When I first started my academic journey at the University of Pretoria, I was enrolled in animal sciences. Having come from a farming background in Stutterheim, a small town in the Eastern Cape, exposure to an array of possible degrees was scarce. As time progressed, I realized that I no longer had a passion for my degree. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to consult with the Faculty Student Advisors and I ended up in this field. From the moment I had switched degrees and had finally enrolled in all the relevant economics courses, I was filled with passion, charisma, and enthusiasm for the agribusiness environment where we soon learned that we would all become “Friends of the farmer” as we dove straight into the coursework. The enthusiasm and passion our lecturers had for what they did were so infectious that I knew I was in the right place, a place that would soon become my “new” passion. Ultimately, I never ended up choosing the degree, it ended up choosing me.

Did you enjoy your studies? Was there anything in particular that you really enjoyed like a class?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes thus far in my academic journey, however in saying that I do not invalidate or ignore the times of struggle, frustration, and sacrifice. I believe in living life by mottos or motivational quotes. One that deeply resonates with me is by Maya Angelou: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

My journey consisted of many late nights, long hours put into projects, setting goals, and forming habits that, in the moment, I did not necessarily appreciate. Looking back, I can say that my journey in this program and the people in it have played a massive role in the person I have become today. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Agribusiness modules, and coming from a farming background, I found that everything just made sense. Most of all, I enjoyed the moments with friends, the late nights studying and finishing off group projects, the twilight motivational chats and helping one another understand some of the concepts, having informative chats with the lecturers and getting to hear the perspectives of seasoned professionals in the field I am pursuing.

How does your degree prepare you for your future?

Throughout my degree, the lecturers and professors shared many real-life examples to make the content we covered easier to understand and apply to real-world scenarios. This degree teaches you to become a critical thinker, to better understand and analyse the agricultural economics environment, how markets function, who the market participants are and how they interact. This degree also provides endless exposure to the functioning of the agricultural business environment and policy, with guest lecturers who have come to speak to us about possible career avenues.

You won the award for best undergraduate student. How do you feel?

Candidly, I am still in the works of processing this amazing achievement as I definitely did not anticipate it. I worked hard and put in the time I had available in addition to my other responsibilities and commitments including being Chairperson of my residence (TuksVillage) last year, being a part of TUKS Camerata as a chorister and a Committee member, to name a few. As such, accomplishment is both a surprise and a blessing from above. I am proud to reap the harvest of all the hard work, the late evenings and early mornings which has brought into fruition, a dream I had not yet dreamt.

What lessons have you learned while studying that you can pass on to the younger generation?

• Sometimes you will fail, and that’s ok. However, it’s how to pick yourself up and prepare harder for the next semester test that defines you.
• Habits make or break your academic success. Routine is key.
• Social media is a distraction – so set boundaries to make sure you always have time for your priorities.
• Don’t shy away from challenges because the more time you spend with difficult concepts, the easier they become.
• Always go beyond what’s expected. When you study don’t just study to relay what’s written on the slides, study to understand, to be able to apply your knowledge to various scenarios and applications.
• You don’t have to go through this academic journey alone! If you don’t understand certain concepts do not be afraid to consult and ask for help or assistance from either a friend who understands the concept, a tutor, or the lecturer. They are here to help you and want to see you succeed but you must make the effort to consult and ask for help.
• Do you! Find a study method or routine that works for you, for example, the Pomodoro technique (study for 25 minutes and take a 5 minute break), flashcards etc. What works for your friend won’t always work for you.
• A little rest goes a long way. Don’t work for more than 2 hours straight without a break, always take breaks to allow your mind and body to just quickly reset and then go for the next study session

Why should people study Agricultural economics, Extension, or Rural Development?

Why not study Agricultural economics? Our degree teaches you so many skills that are necessary in life ranging from time management to critical thinking to analysis of markets and the greater agribusiness environment. It teaches you certain concepts that you can then take back to your respective communities and improve the farming/business management methods used by most. But our degree does not only stop there, it is incredibly versatile. Workplace possibilities range, if you would like to work in an office from 9 to 5 you can, or you can be travelling from farm to farm providing advice on farming techniques, etc. This degree is perfect for someone who doesn’t necessarily know where they want to end up. It provides you with various tools to be able to work in various occupations and grow and learn as you go.

Do you think the youth should be interested in agriculture? What would you say to encourage them to take more interest?

With an ever-growing population and environmental threats such as climate change and global warming, there will always be a need for better farming practices, new technologies, and or business management ideas to produce the necessary food to be able to feed all of our people, manage carbon emissions, educate and keep the agricultural industry up to date with the technological frontier. Naturally, it is imperative for the youth to get involved and be interested in agriculture as there will always be a future in agriculture in some or other capacity. I think a way to get more students interested and involved in agriculture is to do more outreach and school trips, as many students at the school level do not necessarily have any exposure or understanding of what it would look like to get involved in the agricultural sector.

We thank Hanco for shedding light on his remarkable academic journey in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management. Hanco's story exemplifies the power of passion and perseverance in finding one's true calling.