THREE students studying agriculture at Bridgwater College have successfully applied for one of the new land-based scholarships being offered by Mole Valley Farmers and Synergy Farm Health.

Students aged 17 and under who are progressing to the Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Agriculture, were offered the opportunity to apply for the scholarship, worth up to £500 a year, with the added benefit of work placements of up to 200 hours per year with their sponsor.

The lucky recipients of the scholarships were 16-year-olds Annabella Cornish, who has been sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers, and Michael Knuckey and Jacob Wagemans, who have been sponsored by Synergy Farm Health.

Annabella said: “This scholarship will help me to get more out of my education and gain a better understanding of the industry I want to go in to. I grew up on a dairy farm so the land-based lifestyle is in my blood!

“I want to eventually work in nutrition where I can monitor the value of crops and keep the quality of farming high.”

Michael said: “The scholarship will not only help me financially and help with transport costs, it will also provide me with valuable work experience, which means a lot to me.

“My family own a farm in Devon and I hope to go carry on the family tradition.”

Jacob said: “The work experience offered as part of the scholarship will allow me to gain additional experiences, apart from that offered on the college’s Rodway Farm.

“I hope to become a farm manager as the outdoor lifestyle really appeals to me.”

Jeremy Kerswell, the college’s head of land-based, sports and services, said: “We're delighted to be able to launch our new scholarship scheme for this year and are grateful for the support from each of the employers.”