Mark Shorten and Conor Lehane from St Brogan’s College in Bandon, Co Cork, took home the top prize from the 2018 Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools competition. The results were announced at an awards ceremony in Croke Park on Wednesday.
Pictured at a Certified Irish Angus Beef promotion at Bandon mart were St Brogans College Angus Beef schools competition finalists Conor Lehane and Mark Shorten. Picture Denis Boyle The annual competition gives five secondary school teams the chance to rear Angus cross calves for 18 months as part of their Leaving Certificate ag science project.
“From the outset, it was clear that Mark and Conor were two robust young farmers with a keen interest in dairy and beef farming,” said Charles Smith, general manager of the Irish Angus Producer Group. “They demonstrated a passion and enthusiasm for the project but also exhibited a generosity of spirit through their charitable work and willingness to help other competitors throughout the process.”
On completion of the project, each of the finalists receives the financial benefit involved in the selling of the animals to the processors. This amounted to an average €6,550. The winning students also receive an additional grant of €2,000 for their further education.
The runners-up were a group from Athlone Community College. They explored how farm standards, including health and safety and farm organisation, influence the performance of the animals on the farm. Other finalists included CBS, The Green, Tralee, Kerry; Rice College, Westport, Co Mayo; and Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork.
Individual award
Ciaran Calvey from Rice College, Westport, was presented with an "outstanding individual" award for demonstrating a passion for farming.
New schools
Five new schools from a shortlist of 28 will soon be selected to take on the challenge. The judges include representatives from Bord Bia, The Irish Farmers Journal, ABP, Kepak, National Ploughing Association, Tesco Ireland and a number of farmers.
The winners will be announced in April and will be presented with their calves at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2018.
Read more
The five schools competing for the 2019 title
Mark Shorten and Conor Lehane from St Brogan’s College in Bandon, Co Cork, took home the top prize from the 2018 Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools competition. The results were announced at an awards ceremony in Croke Park on Wednesday.
Pictured at a Certified Irish Angus Beef promotion at Bandon mart were St Brogans College Angus Beef schools competition finalists Conor Lehane and Mark Shorten. Picture Denis Boyle The annual competition gives five secondary school teams the chance to rear Angus cross calves for 18 months as part of their Leaving Certificate ag science project.
“From the outset, it was clear that Mark and Conor were two robust young farmers with a keen interest in dairy and beef farming,” said Charles Smith, general manager of the Irish Angus Producer Group. “They demonstrated a passion and enthusiasm for the project but also exhibited a generosity of spirit through their charitable work and willingness to help other competitors throughout the process.”
On completion of the project, each of the finalists receives the financial benefit involved in the selling of the animals to the processors. This amounted to an average €6,550. The winning students also receive an additional grant of €2,000 for their further education.
The runners-up were a group from Athlone Community College. They explored how farm standards, including health and safety and farm organisation, influence the performance of the animals on the farm. Other finalists included CBS, The Green, Tralee, Kerry; Rice College, Westport, Co Mayo; and Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork.
Individual award
Ciaran Calvey from Rice College, Westport, was presented with an "outstanding individual" award for demonstrating a passion for farming.
New schools
Five new schools from a shortlist of 28 will soon be selected to take on the challenge. The judges include representatives from Bord Bia, The Irish Farmers Journal, ABP, Kepak, National Ploughing Association, Tesco Ireland and a number of farmers.
The winners will be announced in April and will be presented with their calves at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2018.
Read more
The five schools competing for the 2019 title
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