Agriculture Foundation Degree student Sarah Moore, 19, from Holsworthy in Devon, was awarded a £500 prize at this week’s Dairy Event and Livestock Show (6/7^th September) at the NEC in Birmingham, beating opposition from Newcastle University in the agriculture category.  The University of Cambridge and the University of Liverpool also competed for the award in the veterinary category.  It is the second year running that a Duchy College student has won the award.

“I was really shocked when my name was announced.  I’m surprised but obviously very happy to win the award,” said Sarah, who previously completed a National Diploma in Agriculture with the College before starting the Foundation Degree, achieving distinctions throughout.

The award was introduced as part of the Farm Health Planning (FHP) initiative, a proactive approach to farm health planning in the cattle sector developed by a group of farmers, vets and specialist advisors, working in partnership with Defra.  The competition was open to students studying at agricultural and veterinary schools or colleges and applicants had to prepare a 1,500 word essay demonstrating their understanding of proactive farm health planning.

Students at Duchy College undertook the task as part of their Foundation Degree course and Sarah’s was chosen to represent the College. 

In her essay, Sarah explored whether proactive health planning (PHP) can reduce costs to farmers, highlighting the perception from some that it can actually increase costs as time progresses.  She highlights the lack of awareness of the long term benefits of PHP and made suggestions for actions that could be taken on a farm provided as a case study.

John Sumner, Farm Health Planning coordinator and project manager at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show, who judged the competition, said: “Sarah made good use of research work in demonstrating a clear understanding of the issues involved, including economics, from a farmer’s perceptive. She stressed the importance of a team approach to proactive health planning which we consider to be a core requirement, but was concerned that many farmers tend not to be aware of the long term benefits. Sarah took a very sound practical approach to the case study again demonstrating that she understood the issues.”

Sarah said: “The assignment helped me to realise what issues can arise with regards to health on farms and gave me the knowledge of having to work without much finance.”

Rural Business School Project Manager Paul Ward, who teaches on the foundation degree, said: “This is a brilliant achievement for Sarah, particularly as she has come from a background outside of the industry.  This illustrates the advantages of the foundation degree approach which allows students to gain experience in the industry.  Sarah has taken full advantage of this by combining working on a dairy farm, in a vet practice, with farmers and on the Healthy Livestock project with her coursework which has proved an excellent support to her studies.”

When asked what she would be spending her prize money on, Sarah replied: “I’m hoping to put it towards the fees for some agriculture-related first-aid courses as this will help me gain more knowledge alongside my degree and I’ll be learning new skills which I can use in the future.” 

Alongside studying towards her foundation degree Sarah also works part-time for Duchy College’s Rural Business School as an Assistant Training Co-ordinator, gaining valuable experience in the industry she would like to build a career in.  Once she completes the course next year, she hopes to either progress to a third top-up year to gain a full honours degree or work on a dairy farm to continue her training while keeping up with in interest in researching lameness in dairy cattle.

Andrew Counsell, Head of Duchy College, said: “Well done to Sarah for her excellent achievement.  We encourage students to gain experience by taking part in industry competitions and events as it helps them to build their knowledge of the subject they are studying and gives them a solid grounding for their future.  This is the second year that a Duchy College student has won this award and is testament to the high-quality education that our industry-experienced lecturers provide.”

All undergraduate courses at Duchy College are approved by the Plymouth University.

For further details on the Agriculture courses available at Duchy College Stoke Climsland please contact the College on 01579 372233 or visit www.duchy.ac.uk.