Taking a break from working life isn’t always easy for Lisa Kennan. This busy woman has to find time between running Kingscourt mart and farming over 70 suckler cows at home in Kilbeg, Kells, Co Meath. However, Irish Country Living managed a catch up with Lisa to discuss her experience of winning the Innovation On-Farm category at the 2013 FBD Women & Agriculture Awards.

“Winning was very much a surprise,” says Lisa, who was nominated by her sister. “The judges and the team gave nothing away on the day of the finals, I had no idea I had been chosen as the winner.”

But Lisa said her sister’s nomination was just the push that she needed.

“I actually really enjoyed the whole experience.”

Although Lisa was initially nervous about the judges visiting her at home in Kilbeg, she says afterwards she didn’t know what she was worried about.

“The judges’ visit was great, it was in no way intimidating. Katherine O’Leary from Irish Country Living, Mary Lyons from Teagasc and Carolyn O’Hara from FBD, all three lovely ladies, arrived down and I showed them around. In a way, it was like showing them around my own playground, that was the easy part.

“I think the real highlight of winning the award was that it gave me validation that we’ve been doing a really good job both at home and at the mart. Farming can be isolating, but the recognition that goes with winning such a prestigious title is a great boost.”

In fact, it inspired Lisa to build on the business.

“Since winning the competition, we increased livestock numbers on the farm and I purchased 50 breeding ewes, due to lamb in January. The competition gave me the confidence to take the leap and try new things. We’ve increased store cattle numbers to 90 and our suckler herd from 50 to 70 cows.”

The mart has also gone from strength to strength.

“Currently, we are putting through over 1,000 cattle in the back end of the year and we have introduced extra sale dates. Beef prices are going really well at the moment, and long may it last. We also introduced a sheep sale on Wednesdays. It is still a work in progress, but so far it has been going really well, with new breeders coming on board each week.”

Urging readers to enter this years’ competition, Lisa says: “I would advise anyone and everyone to give it a shot. When the judges were out on the farm with me, they suggested I should go back and further my education. Since winning the competition, I put this advice into action and enrolled on the Green Cert course with Ballyhaise Agricultural College. It has deepened my understanding, given me a chance to interact with like minded farmers and has provided me with lots of ideas that I’ve implemented on my own farm.

“Without the FBD Women & Agriculture awards, I would never have taken this step.”

Categories and Prizes

1. Innovation On-Farm Award.

(Winner: €2,500. Runner-up: €1,000).

2. Agribusiness Innovation Award.

(Winner: €2,500. Runner-Up: €1,000).

3. Lifetime Achievement Award.

(Special commemorative piece).

Looking to enter?

You can enter yourself or nominate a woman you think has really gone above and beyond in the agricultural industry. Choose one of the categories below and please include your name, address, telephone number and email. If you’re nominating someone else, don’t forget to include all their details too.

1. Innovation On-Farm Award: We’re looking for a farming woman who has successfully implemented technical or managerial innovations on the family farm. This may have been done by one or more of the following:

• Employing new technology wherever possible to improve farm family profitability.

• Seizing every opportunity to improve innovation on the farm.

• Using excellent management practices to make farm work more efficient.

• Improving work-life balance with the introduction of new work practices.

• Employing scientific knowledge to make the best decisions for the farm.

• Building up farm production with unique ideas. We want to know about this woman in 500 words or less.

2. Agribusiness and Innovation Award: The winner of this award will be a woman who has looked at the family farm and seen a novel idea come alive. She may have done this by one or more of the following:

• Developing an impressive and profitable on-farm business, such as a bakery, allotments or a contracting company, anything that falls under the heading of a food, tourism or agri-related business.

• Identifying a viable market opportunity and making a success of it.

• Embracing innovation to add real value to the family enterprise.

• Increasing family income by utilising unique elements of the farm, as well as her own skills. We want to know about this woman in 500 words or less.

3. Lifetime Achievement Award: Is there a woman you know who deserves to be recognised for her role in Irish agriculture? This may have been done by:

• Being at the forefront of Irish agriculture and food for most of her life.

• Pushing boundaries and bringing about change.

• Making her voice heard and actions seen.

• Being as relevant today as she was 20 years ago. We want to know about this woman in 500 words or less.

Who Can Enter?

The awards are open to women aged 18 and over from every country in Ireland. You can enter yourself or be nominated by friends or family.

What Happens Then?

All applications and nominations sent in before the closing date of 7 August 2015 will be reviewed by a judging panel. Shortlisted nominations will then be visited by a panel of judges.

Please send your application form along with five to 10 relevant photographs to: Women & Agriculture Awards 2015, Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12. Alternatively, email your entry to info@farmersjournal.ie. Closing date for applications is 7 August 2015. Any supporting material, such as business brochures, may also be sent but are not essential.