Applications for the "Call of the Ancestors" competition for young farmers are being extended.
The changing weather conditions throughout Latvia have significantly affected the daily lives and workload of farmers, therefore the organizers of the young farmers' competition, the association "Zemnieku saeima", the magazine "AgroTops" and Member of the European Parliament Sandra Kalniete, are extending the application period for the competition "Call of the Ancestors" until July 18 of this year.
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The aim of the competition is to honor young farmers in Latvia. The main prize will be awarded to a young person who lives in the countryside and is a successful farmer, promotes the preservation and development of the rural environment, and is actively involved in social life.
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The application period for the competition has been extended until July 18th (inclusive). Applications and competition regulations can be found here. www.zemniekusaeima.lv or by email: birojs@zemniekusaeima.lv with the indication "For the Young Farmers Competition". We remind you that any resident can apply to be a young farmer this time too.
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The award ceremony will take place as every year at the Farmers' New Year's Ball organized by the Farmers' Council in January 2015. The winners of the competition will receive a fully-paid trip for two to one of the leading European agricultural exhibitions, fairs or events, as well as a prize made by sculptor Pauls Jaunzemas. All finalists of the competition will receive an incentive prize – participation in the Young Leaders personal and professional development training, as well as a fully-paid excursion to the European Parliament in Brussels.
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Composition of the competition jury:
Sandra Kalniete, Member of the European Parliament,
Maira Dzelzkalėja, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Farmers' Assembly,
Anita Pirktina, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine "AgroTops",
Irina Pilvere, Rector of the Latvian University of Agriculture,
Anna Vītola – Helvig, Director of the Rural Support Service,
Jacob Krieviņš, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Mortgage Bank,
Evija Gunika, Executive Director of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives,
Martins Cimermanis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Rural Consulting and Education Center,
Raitis Ungurs, Chairman of the Board of the Young Farmers Club.
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The competition was first organized in 2010, and over the years the winners of the competition have been Inga and Zigmunds Kalniņi from Aizpute region, Valdis Zujs from Rēzekne region, Jānis Vaivars from Skrīveri region, and Aija Šneidere and Jānis Miķelsons from Limbaži region.
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Additional information can be obtained at the office of the Farmers' Assembly in Riga, Republikas laukums 2, office 916 or by calling 67027044.
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