This year marks the 27th anniversary of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, which were held at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday 9 September.
Speaking about the importance of the event for young farmers, Macra president Josephine O’Neill acknowledges it as an opportunity to celebrate the ‘outstanding achievements’ of young farmers.
“We see and hear in the media all the time about the generational renewal crisis and how our young farmers are an endangered species, and to be here tonight to celebrate these young farmers who are leading the way in agriculture, developing, creating and adapting to new innovative technologies, sustainable agriculture practices. They are wonderful ambassadors for young farmers and an excellent example for our members and young farmers in Ireland today to follow,” she says.
History making
On the night, Aileen Sheehan from Cork took home the title of FBD Young Farmer of the Year, which was the first time a female farmer was selected as the overall winner. Aileen is milking 140 dairy cows on a 100% leased farm, managing 28 in-calf heifers and 24 calves as replacements. She began farming in December 2021 after leasing a dairy unit in Whitechurch, purchasing a herd and starting milk supply.
In 2023, she introduced her own heifers and now runs the enterprise with her husband while raising their six-month-old baby, Kate. Alongside farming, Aileen teaches PE and Maths, while her husband serves in the Army. They have won the Dairygold Milk Quality and Sustainability Award in 2024.
“History is made as we announced the first female winner of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards. On behalf of Macra, I’d like to congratulate Aileen Sheehan on her outstanding achievement. Throughout the competition, she has demonstrated her passion for and dedication to agriculture, the environment and her local community. Aileen is following in the footsteps of many trailblazers in agriculture and will no doubt represent with the title with pride and integrity. Congratulations also to all finalists on representing themselves so well,” she says.
Pictured at the awards night is Jim Bergin FBD chairman, Aileen Sheehan, Josephine O’Neill Macra president and FBD Trust chairman Michael Berkery. \ Paul Connor.
Aileen also took home the dairy category prize along with the Macra Agricultural Skillnet biodiversity award.
“I didn’t even tell anyone that I was coming tonight. I told my father I had a meeting in the country. We have three part-time staff with us, who are two past students from my school, and another girl who plays camogie with me. We set off on a dream five years ago to go into dairy farming. As you can imagine, me standing up here, it has absolutely exploded, but we worked hard. If we can do it, anyone can do it; you just need support. You need to follow the good people, the people with the right message, and the people that are going to support you, no matter what. If you follow those and follow what you believe in, you can definitely achieve it together.”
In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the importance of women being visible in the agriculture sector.
“Behind every good man is a great woman, and that’s true, but we shouldn’t be behind. It’s time for women in the agriculture sector to step forward,” says Aileen.
Aileen is now four years into their ten-year lease in Whitechurch.
“It’s been a short stint, but we knew what we wanted to achieve. We listened to the people who told us to achieve. There have been 27 winners of this competition, but there has never been a female, and that was the one thing Philip said to me. It was a challenge for me. It was something that I probably wanted to do for myself, because it has been challenging. To educate yourself enough to run a sustainable business, you have to have knowledge, and you have to listen to the people. You have to listen to the research.”
IFA president Francie Gorman said the competition is one of the most important events in the agriculture calander.
“If we don’t have the next generation coming home to farm, we’re not going to have an industry, and this is a great showcase for that generation to showcase their skills, what they have learned coming up through college, what they have learned on the farm in practical terms and the enthusiasm that they bring to the industry. It’s a great outlet for that generation as well to be able to demonstrate to the rest of us what they’re going to bring to the industry.”
Francie also congratulated all participants, saying, “My hope is that the experience has been positive for you. Having dipped their toe in the water, I would ask this year’s entrants to consider extending their involvement in representing farmers. Congratulations to all our participants, category winners, and our 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year, Aileen Sheehan.”
The evening also celebrated several young farmers who were awarded category winners:
Amie Coonan, Co Tipperary: took home the drystock category winner.
Amie Coonan of Tipperary took home the drystock category winner.
Brian Fitzpatrick, Co Carlow: was awarded the career farm manager category.
Brian Fitzpatrick of Carlow was awarded the career farm manager category.
David Heraty, Co Mayo: David is a beef and sheep farmer and took home the Land Mobility award.
David Heraty, a beef and sheep farmer from Mayo, took home the Land Mobility award.
Isaac Wheelock, Co Wexford: was named runner-up, along with the enterprises category.
Isaac Wheelock of Wexford was named runner-up, along with the enterprises category.
Sarah Kelly, Co Sligo: an equine farmer took home best young entrant.
Sarah Kelly, an equine farmer from Sligo, took home best young entrant.
This year marks the 27th anniversary of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, which were held at the Killashee Hotel in Kildare on Tuesday 9 September.
Speaking about the importance of the event for young farmers, Macra president Josephine O’Neill acknowledges it as an opportunity to celebrate the ‘outstanding achievements’ of young farmers.
“We see and hear in the media all the time about the generational renewal crisis and how our young farmers are an endangered species, and to be here tonight to celebrate these young farmers who are leading the way in agriculture, developing, creating and adapting to new innovative technologies, sustainable agriculture practices. They are wonderful ambassadors for young farmers and an excellent example for our members and young farmers in Ireland today to follow,” she says.
History making
On the night, Aileen Sheehan from Cork took home the title of FBD Young Farmer of the Year, which was the first time a female farmer was selected as the overall winner. Aileen is milking 140 dairy cows on a 100% leased farm, managing 28 in-calf heifers and 24 calves as replacements. She began farming in December 2021 after leasing a dairy unit in Whitechurch, purchasing a herd and starting milk supply.
In 2023, she introduced her own heifers and now runs the enterprise with her husband while raising their six-month-old baby, Kate. Alongside farming, Aileen teaches PE and Maths, while her husband serves in the Army. They have won the Dairygold Milk Quality and Sustainability Award in 2024.
“History is made as we announced the first female winner of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards. On behalf of Macra, I’d like to congratulate Aileen Sheehan on her outstanding achievement. Throughout the competition, she has demonstrated her passion for and dedication to agriculture, the environment and her local community. Aileen is following in the footsteps of many trailblazers in agriculture and will no doubt represent with the title with pride and integrity. Congratulations also to all finalists on representing themselves so well,” she says.
Pictured at the awards night is Jim Bergin FBD chairman, Aileen Sheehan, Josephine O’Neill Macra president and FBD Trust chairman Michael Berkery. \ Paul Connor.
Aileen also took home the dairy category prize along with the Macra Agricultural Skillnet biodiversity award.
“I didn’t even tell anyone that I was coming tonight. I told my father I had a meeting in the country. We have three part-time staff with us, who are two past students from my school, and another girl who plays camogie with me. We set off on a dream five years ago to go into dairy farming. As you can imagine, me standing up here, it has absolutely exploded, but we worked hard. If we can do it, anyone can do it; you just need support. You need to follow the good people, the people with the right message, and the people that are going to support you, no matter what. If you follow those and follow what you believe in, you can definitely achieve it together.”
In her acceptance speech, she acknowledged the importance of women being visible in the agriculture sector.
“Behind every good man is a great woman, and that’s true, but we shouldn’t be behind. It’s time for women in the agriculture sector to step forward,” says Aileen.
Aileen is now four years into their ten-year lease in Whitechurch.
“It’s been a short stint, but we knew what we wanted to achieve. We listened to the people who told us to achieve. There have been 27 winners of this competition, but there has never been a female, and that was the one thing Philip said to me. It was a challenge for me. It was something that I probably wanted to do for myself, because it has been challenging. To educate yourself enough to run a sustainable business, you have to have knowledge, and you have to listen to the people. You have to listen to the research.”
IFA president Francie Gorman said the competition is one of the most important events in the agriculture calander.
“If we don’t have the next generation coming home to farm, we’re not going to have an industry, and this is a great showcase for that generation to showcase their skills, what they have learned coming up through college, what they have learned on the farm in practical terms and the enthusiasm that they bring to the industry. It’s a great outlet for that generation as well to be able to demonstrate to the rest of us what they’re going to bring to the industry.”
Francie also congratulated all participants, saying, “My hope is that the experience has been positive for you. Having dipped their toe in the water, I would ask this year’s entrants to consider extending their involvement in representing farmers. Congratulations to all our participants, category winners, and our 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year, Aileen Sheehan.”
The evening also celebrated several young farmers who were awarded category winners:
Amie Coonan, Co Tipperary: took home the drystock category winner.
Amie Coonan of Tipperary took home the drystock category winner.
Brian Fitzpatrick, Co Carlow: was awarded the career farm manager category.
Brian Fitzpatrick of Carlow was awarded the career farm manager category.
David Heraty, Co Mayo: David is a beef and sheep farmer and took home the Land Mobility award.
David Heraty, a beef and sheep farmer from Mayo, took home the Land Mobility award.
Isaac Wheelock, Co Wexford: was named runner-up, along with the enterprises category.
Isaac Wheelock of Wexford was named runner-up, along with the enterprises category.
Sarah Kelly, Co Sligo: an equine farmer took home best young entrant.
Sarah Kelly, an equine farmer from Sligo, took home best young entrant.
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