A couple of weeks before the Ploughing during rush hour at the NPA office, I got the chance to sit down with Anna May and figure out where the National Ploughing Championship came from and the direction it is heading in the future.
Anna May said it all started back in 1931 when a debate raged between two counties over which one had the best ploughman. So on 16 February that year the first competition took place on Jim Fox’s farm in Athy. Denis Allen from Wexford and JJ Bergin from Kildare organised the event and it was agreed that the county that won would host the Ploughing the next year. Mick Redmond from Wexford claimed the honours and the ploughing moved to Wexford in 1932. Anna May has a copy of the programme, which cost 3d.
The first ploughing that Anna May got officially involved in was 1954, when she was asked to help with the administration by JJ Bergin, the founder of the NPA. The NPA formed a limited company in 1956. She recalls organising that event in 1954 – it had 25 exhibitors and one small tent for the headquarters.
All the forms and administration involved in organising the event were carried in one briefcase. The cost of running the Ploughing came to £9 and 3 shillings. Anna May recalls there was no need for site engineers, road plans, or health and safety. It was very far removed from the event in Ratheniska, which is the biggest ever Ploughing, states Anna May.
To run the event today takes about 500 people on the day, 65 judges, local support from the community and a huge administration effort behind the scenes. Anna May says that as soon as this event finishes, the next one begins. Based on NPA audited figures, it cost €4.17m last year to hold the event.
Anna May puts the size of the Ploughing into perspective. They have 25km of roadway laid down on the site, and thousands of euro spent on electrical cable.
I asked her how it came about that she was made managing director of the NPA. She said that JJ Bergin passed away in 1958 and he was succeeded by Sean O’Farrell, and she was appointed secretary. “Sean served until 1972, and then I was appointed managing director and secretary for the NPA.”
Anna May says she has enjoyed every moment of her role: “The variety encountered in this job would be impossible to find anywhere else.”
This year, for her outstanding contribution, she will be awarded le Mérite Agricole from the French agricultural ministry. Her achievements in developing the National Ploughing Championship are noticed internationally.
So how does Anna May keep up to speed on everything happening in agriculture? She says the Irish Farmers Journal on a Thursday has had all the information down through the years, with some very good technical advice. The Journal is a part of rural life, according to Anna May.
Returning back to this year’s event, Anna May is really happy at how many stands there are about education at the Ploughing. She says it is great to see an interest from the next generation. This year, there will also be an international delegation visiting to see our industry.
Anna May said she will be sad to leave Ratheniska. “It is a great site and community to organise the National Ploughing Championship.”
She says they will return here, maybe for the world event.
When we asked Anna May about next year’s venue, she replied “no comment”.
Read more
All about Ploughing 2015
A couple of weeks before the Ploughing during rush hour at the NPA office, I got the chance to sit down with Anna May and figure out where the National Ploughing Championship came from and the direction it is heading in the future.
Anna May said it all started back in 1931 when a debate raged between two counties over which one had the best ploughman. So on 16 February that year the first competition took place on Jim Fox’s farm in Athy. Denis Allen from Wexford and JJ Bergin from Kildare organised the event and it was agreed that the county that won would host the Ploughing the next year. Mick Redmond from Wexford claimed the honours and the ploughing moved to Wexford in 1932. Anna May has a copy of the programme, which cost 3d.
The first ploughing that Anna May got officially involved in was 1954, when she was asked to help with the administration by JJ Bergin, the founder of the NPA. The NPA formed a limited company in 1956. She recalls organising that event in 1954 – it had 25 exhibitors and one small tent for the headquarters.
All the forms and administration involved in organising the event were carried in one briefcase. The cost of running the Ploughing came to £9 and 3 shillings. Anna May recalls there was no need for site engineers, road plans, or health and safety. It was very far removed from the event in Ratheniska, which is the biggest ever Ploughing, states Anna May.
To run the event today takes about 500 people on the day, 65 judges, local support from the community and a huge administration effort behind the scenes. Anna May says that as soon as this event finishes, the next one begins. Based on NPA audited figures, it cost €4.17m last year to hold the event.
Anna May puts the size of the Ploughing into perspective. They have 25km of roadway laid down on the site, and thousands of euro spent on electrical cable.
I asked her how it came about that she was made managing director of the NPA. She said that JJ Bergin passed away in 1958 and he was succeeded by Sean O’Farrell, and she was appointed secretary. “Sean served until 1972, and then I was appointed managing director and secretary for the NPA.”
Anna May says she has enjoyed every moment of her role: “The variety encountered in this job would be impossible to find anywhere else.”
This year, for her outstanding contribution, she will be awarded le Mérite Agricole from the French agricultural ministry. Her achievements in developing the National Ploughing Championship are noticed internationally.
So how does Anna May keep up to speed on everything happening in agriculture? She says the Irish Farmers Journal on a Thursday has had all the information down through the years, with some very good technical advice. The Journal is a part of rural life, according to Anna May.
Returning back to this year’s event, Anna May is really happy at how many stands there are about education at the Ploughing. She says it is great to see an interest from the next generation. This year, there will also be an international delegation visiting to see our industry.
Anna May said she will be sad to leave Ratheniska. “It is a great site and community to organise the National Ploughing Championship.”
She says they will return here, maybe for the world event.
When we asked Anna May about next year’s venue, she replied “no comment”.
Read more
All about Ploughing 2015
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