SSK’s board members are all farmers and agriculture is close to their hearts. They boast first-hand knowledge of the industry and lead SSK in ensuring success for our members’ businesses. They make it their priority to ensure that the organisation complies with the wishes of the members, as well as the community.
Board of Directors
Dirk van Papendorp
Dirk van Papendorp is the third generation of Van Papendorp’s on their family farm Voorstekop, in the Heidelberg district. He completed his school education in 1982 at Heidelberg High School. He got his B.Sc Agric degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1986 and after completing his military training, he obtained his Hons. (Agricultural Economics) at the same University. He then began farming on the family farm where he held various positions in organized agriculture among others: Secretary of Heidelberg Farmers association, member of the Rural Council, Chairman of the GrainSA Canola Industry Committee and Board member of Region 27. Dirk is also involved at the Suurbraak Grain Farmers’ Cooperative where he is a mentor as well as a board member. He is closely involved with the development and aiding of willing grain farmers in the Suurbraak community. He is married to Retha and together they are blessed with four beautiful girls who enjoys farm life in abundance with them.
Schalk Viljoen
Schalk is a native of Riviersonderend, where he matriculated in 1984. Currently he resides on the farm Van der Wattskraal. After school he studied at the Grootfontein College of Agriculture that specializes in sheep and wool majors. Since 1991 he’s been farming with grain, citrus and merino sheep in the Stormsvlei and Riviersonderend area. He is the Managing Director of Dasberg Farm, an empowerment farm in which his workers hold the majority shares. Over the past ten years Schalk has served as Executive committee member of GrainSA, on the Directory of Agri Western Cape and Agrimega, and as Trustee of the Winter Grain Trust. In 2012 he was elected to the Board of Directories at SSK. Schalk is married to Landi and they have two sons, Schalk – Willem and Ben. His free time is spent with his family and he occasionally plays some golf. Agriculture in the Overberg is his passion and he believes there is no better place to farm with grain and sheep as right here at the Southern tip of Africa
Thys Odendaal
Thys matriculated in 1995 from Oakdale Agricultural High School. In 1998 he obtained his B.Agric. (Admin) degree from the University of Stellenbosch, after which he settled into the farming industry. He farms with his father on the farm Leeukop in the Protem area. In 2009 he became one of SSK’s directors. He is married to Cara-Mari and they have four daughters.
Johann Muller
Johann Muller was born on 6 January 1980 in Mossel Bay. He matriculated at Oakdale Agricultural High. After school he played rugby for the Sharks (captain), Ulster in Northern Ireland and the Springboks where he also acted as substitute captain. He has been farming since 2004 on the family farm, Patrysfontein, close to Mossel Bay with his father Quintus and older brother Ignatius. The focus is on grain farming (canola, wheat barley and oats), meat cattle and dairy.
He is married to Mariska and they have 3 children Anja, Juann en Alissa.
Adriaan Steyn
Adriaan matriculated in 1995 at the Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale. Thereafter he obtained his B. Agric Admin at Stellenbosch University. Adriaan was temporarily appointed as an SSK board member in August 2008 and in 2009 became a permanent member . He is also a director at Soill. He initially went to North America to work there before he started farming with his father (Dirkie) in 2001. He lives on the farm Wankie in the Heidelberg district. He and his wife Letetia have three sons, Drian, Deniel and Cristiaan. The farm currently consists of 100% sowing crops. His passion is conservation agriculture.
Thys Streicher
Thys matriculated in 1999 at Swellendam High School. He then completes an agricultural management course at Saasveld, George. 2003 he started a mixed farm near Swellendam with his father, focusing on the grain and sheep branch of the farm. Thys is married to Sané, a teacher in Swellendam.
Johannes Joubert
Johannes grew up on his father, Geoffrey’s, farm near Riversdale. He Matriculated in 1988 from Oakdale Agricultural High School. Thereafter in 1989 he began his national service and became a J.L. Instructor. He also studied at the University of Stellenbosch for an agricultural management course and in 1993 he joined his father on the farm. In 2011 they expanded their enterprise towards Heidelberg. Currently Johannes and his brother Geoffrey are farming together with grain and sheep. He is married to Rika, an avid Saddle Horse enthusiast. Their two daughters Anja and Korine share their mother’s love for horses, while Johannes likes mountain biking.
Hampie Lourens
Hampie grew up outside Swellendam on their family farm, Mopama. He matriculated in 1990 at Swellendam High, where he also served as head boy. He graduated from Stellenbosch University with B.Comm, B.Comm (Hons) and M.Comm (Transport Economics) degrees. He received training at HES-ISER (School of International Economics, Rotterdam, Netherlands) as well as Executive Managerial training at the Wits Business School.
He worked for 20 years in the corporate environment, amongst others at Bidvest SABT (South African Bulk Terminals) as Executive Manager from 2010 to 2018. He has vast experience in managerial positions at companies involved with agriculture and received exposure to high level strategic decision making with industry leaders both locally and internationally. He and his family returned to Swellendam and Lourens Broers Boerdery in 2018.
Jonathan Barry
Jonathan grew up on their family farm, Lismore, outside Suurbraak in the Swellendam region and matriculated at Swellendam High in 2000. He studied at Prestige College, where he graduated with MSCE, MSCD, Network Integration and Systems Technology qualifications. During this time he served on the Student Council and was Chairman of his hostel. After his studies he worked as a Lecturer in Information Technology in England. He returned to South Africa in 2007 and has farmed on the family farm since then. He served as Chairman of the South Cape Jersey club from 2009 until 2011. During this time the successful and still popular South Cape Herd competition was launched. He was elected to the Western Cape Management of the MPO in 2015, a position which he still holds. In 2019 he became Director of Mooivallei Dairies and is a dairy farmer in heart and soul. He is married to Mariëtte and they have 3 children.
Johann Reinecke
Johann de Villiers Reinecke farms on the farm Molenrivier in the upper-Langkloof region. The Reinecke ownership of Molenrivier goes back four generations. Johann matriculated in Oudtshoorn in 2006 and afterwards completed a B Agric degree at the University of Stellenbosch. He produces deciduous fruit on the farm, which operates as Reddott Farms. Cattle is also a focus area.
He is married to Alicia and they have two sons Otto and Milan.
Pieter de Jager
Pieter de Jager grew up on the farm Swartklip in the Albertinia district. He matriculated at Oakdale Agricultural High School and graduated with a N.Dip as well as B.TECH en M.TECH degrees in Agricultural Management at NMMU. Good financial management, the latest technology and utilising the right suppliers as commercial partners are of the utmost importance on the family farm, to maintain sustainability. The Grain SA / Syngenta “Grain Producer of the Year” was awarded to him in 2023.
He is married to Marié and have 3 children.