The spotlight is on, and two voices from the heart of agriculture are ready to shine. Agri’s Got Talent (AGT) 2025 has announced its top 10 finalists, and among them are Marco Jacobs of Simondium and Clayton Mentoor of Grabouw in the Western Cape.
For Jacobs, a quality controller assistant at Marlenique Packhouse, music is a form of expression and joy. “My highlight will definitely be being on stage and sharing my talent. Ons gaan lekker die mense entertain en ons pap nat sweet,” he says with a grin.
Jacobs, who enjoys pop and jazz, describes himself as someone unafraid of challenges. My personality is that I’m someone who takes chances. I’m not afraid.”
His inspiration came from home. “My dad would grab an imaginary microphone, whether a broomstick or the TV remote, and pretend to sing. That made me fall in love with music.”
Beyond the melodies, agriculture itself inspires him. “What stands out for me in agriculture is the process, from the very beginning. I’m on the primary side, but it’s amazing to see how it all gets packaged before it reaches the shelf.”
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Mentoor’s journey begins
Mentoor, a seasonal worker at Kromco, first heard about AGT at work. For him, music has always been a spiritual calling. “My love for music started in church. I was just a little boy when I was already singing in the choir,” he recalls.
Today, he sings with his worship team and has even competed in previous talent competitions, once earning a bursary to study further. His musical idol is John Legend, whose songs and words, he says, “hold a lot of meaning.”
Stepping into AGT is a dream realised. “I’m very excited for the journey with Agri’s Got Talent. This is my first time taking part in a competition, and I’m looking forward to meeting the team,” he says.
The moment he got the call still lingers in his memory: “When I received the call that I got into the top 10, I was very excited. My heart started beating fast.”
During the week, Jacobs, Mentoor and their fellow contestants will receive professional voice coaching, stage performance training, and guidance in personal growth, including communication skills, confidence-building, financial literacy, and conflict resolution. By the end of the week, they will be ready not just to perform, but to inspire.
On the night of the finale, they will share their voices, stories, and dreams with a live audience.
Tickets to the finale are available via Computicket. Click on the link to get your tickets.
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