Bicton College student crowned Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year
Bicton College student Tia Whitrow has been named Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year. As a prize for this prestigious award, Tia will receive funding to attend a leading agricultural event of her choosing.
The overall Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year was selected from the 2024 bursary recipients and recognises a young farmer with passion and enthusiasm for the future of farming.
“Among this year’s exceptional bursary recipients, Tia stood out for her determination to not only progress her family farm, but also to have a positive impact on the wider industry,” says Cornish Mutual Chief Executive Officer Peter Beaumont. “Her commitment to building her knowledge and skillset is admirable, and I’m sure she has a bright future ahead.”
Tia is an active Young Farmer who grow up on a family farm and is currently studying a Level 2 course in Agriculture at the East Devon college. In her application, which took the form of a photo essay, Tia explained why she is studying agriculture and demonstrated her passion for the industry.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have won the award,” said Tia. “Being recognised as the South West Agricultural Student of the Year is a huge confidence boost, and it’s strengthened my determination to meet my goals.
“My long-term ambition is to expand and develop the family farm to make it resilient for the future. Winning the bursary will help me invest in resources and learning experiences that prepare me to take a more active role in the business. I’m also hoping to expand my knowledge of showing and stock judging, and I would love to spend some time in New Zealand to gain more experience of different farming systems.”
In addition to this award, Tia also received a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Further Education bursary of £500. Attracting a record level of entries this year, Cornish Mutual’s Young Farmer Bursaries offer funding to support agricultural students studying in the South West. The farming insurance experts offer four Further Education Bursaries of £500 and two Higher Education Bursaries of £750 towards course-related costs.
The Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries are part of the Future Farming Programme, which supports the future of agriculture in the region.