Another unforgettable chapter in South African agricultural excellence was written tonight at the Lamb Champs Alfa Dinner, hosted during Nampo Alfa in Bothaville. In front of 450 dinner guests, which included farmers, sponsors, and dignitaries, the title of Lamb Champs 2025 National Champion was awarded to Hennie Jonker, whose exceptional lamb impressed across every judging category, from on-the-hoof evaluation to final taste.
Headlined by Pick n Pay, the Lamb Champs series is proudly presented by the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) and Provantage, with Toyota and ZarBet as key partners. Pick n Pay’s continued support has helped elevate the competition to unprecedented heights, bridging the gap between family farmers and the consumer.
The national final brought together the four regional champions from across the country:
- Lize Mans – Dorper, Farm Gerhardsput, Kenhardt, Northern Cape (Kimberley winner)
- JP Nel – Dorper, Farm Enkelbos, Vryburg, North West (Pretoria winner)
- Hennie Jonker – Farm Hampshire Down, Kromdraai, Kroonstad, Free State (Parys winner)Hennie Jonker
- Louis Botha – Meatmaster, Farm Hillside Boerdery, Cradock, Eastern Cape (Boland winner)
Since Monday, 13 October, the competitors’ lambs underwent the most comprehensive judging process in the competition’s history. Slaughter evaluations took place at Huntersvlei, on-the-hoof assessments were conducted by Jan de Jong, carcasses were judged by SAMIC, and laboratory analysis was verified by the University of the Free State. Each participant also presented two lambs for the evening’s traditional spit evaluation, where a panel of three independent judges assessed the flavour and tenderness, accounting for 50 points in the final score.
The Lamb Champs National Champion walks away with R50,000 in cash, the prestigious bronze trophy sculpted by renowned artist Nic van Rensburg valued at R80,000, and additional prizes sponsored by the event’s partners.
In his address at the gala dinner, Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai, expressed gratitude to Pick n Pay for its leadership and long-term commitment to family farmers:
“Pick n Pay’s partnership has transformed Lamb Champs from a competition into a movement. They have opened their shelves and their hearts to real South African farmers, helping consumers connect directly with the people who produce their food. Their belief in quality, traceability, and sustainability mirrors exactly what Lamb Champs stands for.”
Rossouw also commended the competitors:
“Lamb Champs is not just about who has the tastiest lamb. It is about giving family farmers a proper platform. These events open doors, create networks, and showcase what quality farming looks like. Every farmer here is a champion.”
Tessa Chamberlain head of strategic partnerships at Pick ‘n Pay added “Pick n Pay’s partnership with Lamb Champs aligns our two brands enabling us to support them by establishing a platform for them to reach customers directly, building trust through quality and traceability! We need to support the farming heritage in South Africa and as a retailer we are proud to support our farmers through the Lamb Champs programme which is growing and becoming an important component of our farmers success!”
This year, Lamb Champs hosted four national qualifying events – in Kimberley, Pretoria, Parys, and Paarl – culminating in tonight’s national final at Nampo Alfa. Across the 2025 season, a total of 266 lambs were spitted from farmers representing every province in South Africa, and more than 12,000 visitors attended Lamb Champs events nationwide.
The excitement will continue beyond the showgrounds as Season 2 of the Lamb Champs television series concludes filming in December 2025 and will air on kykNET, DStv, in June 2026, bringing the stories of South Africa’s finest farmers to screens across the country.
Guests at the Alfa Dinner included representatives from Pick n Pay, Toyota and ZarBet, alongside the four provincial champions, industry leaders, and members of the media.
As the Lamb Champs 2025 season concludes, preparations are already underway for next year’s competitions, which will continue to grow this proudly South African celebration of farming heritage, innovation, and excellence.
For more information, visit www.lambchamps.co.za
or follow @LambChampsSA on social media.
