GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Prior to the annual #Youth in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (#YAFF) Awards Competition, a prestigious event held annually to celebrate youth in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries invited stakeholders in the sector to nominate young top producers nation-wide either in agriculture, forestry or fisheries for this competition.

Local Caroline LeWack, hatchery supervisor and trustee of the employee trust at Karoo Catch, a local aquaculture and agro-processing initiative based in Graaff-Reinet, was one of these nominees.

At the gala dinner held recently in Pretoria, LeWack was announced as the overall winner of the Large-scale Fisheries #YAFF award.

LeWack was recruited from within the local community as one of Karoo Catch's first group of trainees in 2011.

During the six years that LeWack has been part of this initiative's operations, she has grown significantly in her knowledge and ability to breed fish by first obtaining NQF Level 1 qualification in Animal Production and then qualifying as a fish farmer in 2013.

She has since worked her way up to being appointed as the hatchery supervisor in 2016.

Apart from her supervision of the breeding and growing of fry to fingerlings in the hatchery, her personal development has been remarkable. Not only is she able to breed fish and lead others, but she has a thorough understanding of the business enterprise.

LeWack is described by her employers as a natural leader who consistently delivers work of a high standard, on time.

LeWack is further praised as an exceptionally reliable and determined individual who will endeavour to achieve all her personal and professional goals.

In addition to following the prescribed duties, she constantly looks for ways of improving processes. As such she has been instrumental in refining the breeding protocol as well as proposing changes that have been successfully implemented in the hatchery.

All those who work alongside LeWack at Karoo Catch consider her a valued member of their team, dedicated and hardworking, who is highly regarded by all.

Karoo catch is extremely proud of LeWack.

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