From Albertinia to R100 000: Lamb Champs Boland puts the value of South African lamb on show
A Dohne Merino from Albertinia, a R100 000 lamb from Victoria West and farmers from across South Africa took centre stage at Lamb Champs Boland on Heritage Day, as producers and consumers once again met around one of South Africa’s most familiar gathering places – the braai fire.
At the heart of the day was the question on which Lamb Champs was built: who produces South Africa’s best-tasting lamb?
This year, the answer came from Albertinia.
Kayla Wasserman was crowned Lamb Champs Boland 2026 champion after her Dohne Merino came out on top in the taste judging. PK Uys from Robertson secured second place with a Dormer, while Nico Kruger from Springfontein in the Free State took third with a Konsortium Merino. Henk Linde from Cradock finished fourth with a Konsortium Merino, while Jacques de Villiers from Victoria West and his Merino completed the Top 5.
“Look at that Top 5; Albertinia, Robertson, Springfontein, Cradock and Victoria West. Different regions, breeds and farming systems, but all producing exceptional lamb,” said Saai CEO Francois Rossouw. “That is precisely what we want consumers to experience at Lamb Champs. There is a farmer, a farm and a story behind what we put on our plates.”
When a lamb becomes worth R100 000
That value was perhaps most visible during the Bokslam auction, where Johan van Heerden from Victoria West achieved R100 000 for his Konsortium Merino lamb.
Two Bokslam auction sessions formed part of a packed Heritage Day programme, which also saw Henru & Schwabie, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Robbie Wessels and Francois van Coke perform live, while the popular skaapkop-eetkompetisie once again drew a crowd. But between the music, smoke and competition, the farmer remained the focus.
“Lamb Champs should be fun, but there is something more important happening underneath it,” Rossouw said. “A consumer who normally sees a packet of lamb on a supermarket shelf gets to stand next to the fire, taste the product and shake the hand of the person who produced it. That connection matters.”
The growth of Lamb Champs has been made possible by partners who have bought into a bigger idea than simply sponsoring an event.
Pick n Pay, the headline partner of Lamb Champs, has played a central role in taking the farmer-consumer connection beyond the festival grounds. Lamb Champs-branded lamb is now available through Pick n Pay’s corporate store network, creating market opportunities for participating farmers, while the partnership has also expanded into Pick n Pay Clothing with a dedicated Lamb Champs range.
Toyota and ZarBet continue as key supporting partners, helping Lamb Champs reach more farmers and consumers as the platform grows.
“Lamb Champs has never been something Saai could build alone,” Rossouw said. “Pick n Pay, Toyota, ZarBet, Zoetis and our other partners understand why family farming matters. Their support helps us keep the farmer where they belong, at the centre of the food story.”
From Boland to South Africa versus Namibia
Attention now shifts to Pretoria and the inaugural Lamb Champs Invitational, planned for 31 October 2026 at Silver Lakes Farm Hotel, where ten South African and ten Namibian farmers are set to compete in the first international Lamb Champs format. The Namibian team was announced in Windhoek on 18 September following the launch of NamLamb, while South Africa’s team is being assembled from Lamb Champs qualifying results and captain’s selections.
The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Namibia, however, has introduced an important consideration. Lamb Champs and its Namibian partners remain in constant discussions to assess developments and determine the responsible way forward, with animal health, movement restrictions and biosecurity taking precedence in decisions around the Invitational.
“We are incredibly excited about what South Africa versus Namibia can become, but agriculture comes first,” Rossouw said. “We are in constant communication with our Namibian counterparts and will work with the relevant veterinary authorities and experts. If the logistics or format need to change to protect animal health and maintain strict biosecurity, we will adapt accordingly.”
The Invitational represents the next step in a concept that began with a simple idea: give family farmers an opportunity to put their product directly in front of the people who eat it.
“Ultimately, Lamb Champs isn't only about finding one winning lamb,” Rossouw said. “It is about getting people excited about South African lamb again and making sure they know the farmers who produce it.”
Photos attached:
Photo 1: Winner Kayla Wasserman with Iné Bester from Saai, Tessa Chamberlain from PnP and Minki van der Westhuizen
Photo 2: 2nd place PK Uys with Iné Bester from Saai, Tessa Chamberlain from PnP and Minki van der Westhuizen
Photo 3: 3rd place Nico Kruger with Iné Bester from Saai, Tessa Chamberlain from PnP and Minki van der Westhuizen
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