Scholarship sends young farmer to New Zealand (From Hereford Times)

Scholarship sends young farmer to New Zealand

8:00am Saturday 12th May 2012 in Farming

Weobley farmer James Fernie is off to broaden his experience in New Zealand after becoming the first person to be awarded a new project’s full scholarship.

The 21-year-old flies out next month having been chosen by the Rich Wigram New Zealand Farming Scholarship.

The charity was established and named after the Devon-born farmer who was tragically killed in 2004, aged 34, in an accident on his farm.

Its aim is to give scholarships to farming students to enable them to travel and work within the New Zealand dairy industry.

James, who went to Weobley High School and Holme Lacy College in Hereford, completed work placements for Nick and Charlie Baker of Eardisley and Malcolm Lewis of Little Parton.

He also boosted his chances of securing the scholarship by working for R and A J Manning of Edwyn Ralph before becoming an assistant herdsman for a 200-cow dairy heard in Leicestershire.

Kerry Jerman, who is from the Rhayader area, will join James on a partial scholarship for the trip down under.

James said he is looking forward to an amazing opportunity to gain valuable experience of dairy farming.

“It will be brilliant to better understand how they manage to be successful in the global market place,”

he added.

Francis Wigram, chairman of the charity, said he had been impressed by the calibre of the people who had applied.

“James showed huge enthusiasm for the dairy industry and has a great grounding in practical farming while Kerry’s approach to life and willingness to learn stood out,”

he said.

“We are confident both of them will be good ambassadors for the UK dairy sector, and for the charity, while they are in New Zealand and will benefit greatly from the knowledge and experience they gain.”