STUDENTS BRINGING HOME THE BEEF IN IRISH HEREFORD COMPETITION
FIVE agricultural students have each been awarded €1,000 educational bursaries by the Irish Hereford Breed Society, supported by Slaney Foods International and LIDL Ireland.
The competition, launched in the spring, created wide interest from prospective students wishing to go to Agricultural College or study agriculture at third level this year.
The successful students are:
Jacob, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
÷Ciaran Moore, Tullamore, Co Offaly ÷Diarmúid McDonald, Barntown, Co Wexford
÷Eoin McCormack, Donaskeigh, Co Tipperary
÷Niall Woods, Drogheda, Co Louth
Participants were required to submit an assignment on the topic: ‘Young Farmers’ Challenges and Opportunities in Beef Farming’.
A team of adjudicators selected10 qualifiers for interview to decide the winners. Speaking at the announcement of the results at Tullamore Court Hotel, Henry Dudley, vice president of the Irish Hereford Breed Society, said the finalists had set a very high standard.
He added that the challenges arising for agriculture into the future will require increased education, particularly in agricultural science.
Environmental challenges
“The environmental challenges facing the industry are many and varied depending on where in the world food is produced and where the world’s population is concentrated,” he said.
“We are confident that this competition has succeeded in highlighting the great need for further education in agriculture to meet the needs of a growing population.”
The runners up were:
÷Aideen Barry, Carlow
÷Eugene Costello, Moate, Co Westmeath
÷Neil Maher, Birr, Co Offaly
÷Orla Hayes, Kanturk, Co Cork ÷Sarah Donnelly, Stradone, Co Cavan