STUDENT AG ENGINEER PRIZE PRESENTED

PICTURED ABOVE: Winning undergraduate Aled Beech, right, with Graham Higginson, senior lecturer at Harper Adams

The New Holland tractor plant in Basildon, Essex played host to The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) Annual Awards Ceremony on 24th April. 

Each year, IAgrE hand out a dozen Awards to their members, and CNH have sponsored the two student awards for over a decade.

David Rapkins, CNH business director UK & ROI, said: “It’s incredibly important for us to support and encourage young talent into our industry; we’ve held this partnership for over a decade as we see the true value in celebrating the innovative ideas from the next generation."

Aled Beech, a 23-year-old from North Wales, won the undergraduate award whilst studying agricultural engineering at Harper Adams University. Born and raised on his family’s upland beef and sheep farm, Aled said his passion for engineering started at a young age. “My dad has always been a competent mechanic and when things went wrong, we had to fix them, so it has always been a part of my life," he said.

Aled’s winning project was the concept development of a control traffic farming bale chute to fit a large square baler. The chute used a hydraulic system to offset bales to the side of tramlines to accommodate a baler chaser pickup system, located on the right-hand side of the machine.

Aled said, “I’d like to extend my greatest thanks to those at CNH and IAgrE for selecting me to win the under-graduate award for my dissertation/thesis demonstrating innovation and practical application in the land-based industry. I am extremely grateful and proud to be selected.”

When asked whether he had any advice for future students applying for the Award, Aled added, “Recognise something you find interesting, and do it – ignore the barriers! Even if you lack some of the skills for the project, grab it by the horns and develop yourself as you go through it. Nothing is impossible, especially in agriculture where adaptability and working under pressure are part of day-to-day life”.

Every year, the student winners are welcomed for a visit to the CNH Plant, rewarded with a cash prize, and provided with an opportunity for an internship within CNH. One of last years’ winners now works within the Precision Technology team in Basildon.

The Student Awards (one undergraduate and one postgraduate) are open for all Universities in the UK and Ireland and are awarded to students whose dissertation/thesis best demonstrates innovation and practical application in the land-based industry.