Farming families from Dublin, Sligo, Cork and Down were this evening declared regional winners of the FBD UN Year of Family Farming Awards 2014 at the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Championships. The awards, run in association with Teagasc and IFA, have an overall prize fund of €25,000 and attracted entrants from all over the country, with judges visiting a shortlist of 25 farms before reaching their decision.
The four families declared winners this evening were:
Leinster – Whyte family from Naul, Co Dublin, who have 14 farmers working across 3,000 acres. Connacht – Dunphy family from Easkey, Co Sligo, who run a dairy farm. Munster – the Murphy family farm in Coachford, Co Cork. Ulster – the Hamilton family, owners of Mash Direct in Comber Co Down. These winners came away with €3,000 each, and will now present their stories at the Women & Agriculture Conference on 22 October in Co Meath. The top award will be announced at the Teagasc/IFA conference in November, where the winner will come away with a grand prize of €5,000.
There was also a runner-up from each region. These finalists received €1,500 each.
These were:
Connacht – the Calvey family from Achill, who run a sheep farm, an abattoir, a butcher shop and an equestrian centreLeinster – the Clarke family, who are behind Clarke’s Fresh Fruit in Stamullen, Co Meath. Munster – the O’Brien family from Bandon, Co Cork. Ulster – the Egerton family from Enniskillen. To make the shortlist, entrants had to send in a detailed entry form under the following headings: family product and place, community and voluntary contribution, and coping with challenge. The overall impression by judges upon their visit to the farm was also a factor.
The UN 2014 International Year of Family Farming recognises the critical role which the family farm plays in food security, nutrition and sustainable development.
The judges were Tim O’Connell from FBD, Katherine O’Leary from the Irish Farmers Journal and John Keating from Teagasc.
“You are truly marvellous people with wonderful families. The future of family farming is safe in your hands,” said Katherine O’Leary this evening.
A special award was also given to the Rohan family from Shanahoe in Co Laois, who are behind Embrace, an initiative established earlier this year to highlight the issue of farm safety.
Farming families from Dublin, Sligo, Cork and Down were this evening declared regional winners of the FBD UN Year of Family Farming Awards 2014 at the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Championships. The awards, run in association with Teagasc and IFA, have an overall prize fund of €25,000 and attracted entrants from all over the country, with judges visiting a shortlist of 25 farms before reaching their decision.
The four families declared winners this evening were:
Leinster – Whyte family from Naul, Co Dublin, who have 14 farmers working across 3,000 acres. Connacht – Dunphy family from Easkey, Co Sligo, who run a dairy farm. Munster – the Murphy family farm in Coachford, Co Cork. Ulster – the Hamilton family, owners of Mash Direct in Comber Co Down. These winners came away with €3,000 each, and will now present their stories at the Women & Agriculture Conference on 22 October in Co Meath. The top award will be announced at the Teagasc/IFA conference in November, where the winner will come away with a grand prize of €5,000.
There was also a runner-up from each region. These finalists received €1,500 each.
These were:
Connacht – the Calvey family from Achill, who run a sheep farm, an abattoir, a butcher shop and an equestrian centreLeinster – the Clarke family, who are behind Clarke’s Fresh Fruit in Stamullen, Co Meath. Munster – the O’Brien family from Bandon, Co Cork. Ulster – the Egerton family from Enniskillen. To make the shortlist, entrants had to send in a detailed entry form under the following headings: family product and place, community and voluntary contribution, and coping with challenge. The overall impression by judges upon their visit to the farm was also a factor.
The UN 2014 International Year of Family Farming recognises the critical role which the family farm plays in food security, nutrition and sustainable development.
The judges were Tim O’Connell from FBD, Katherine O’Leary from the Irish Farmers Journal and John Keating from Teagasc.
“You are truly marvellous people with wonderful families. The future of family farming is safe in your hands,” said Katherine O’Leary this evening.
A special award was also given to the Rohan family from Shanahoe in Co Laois, who are behind Embrace, an initiative established earlier this year to highlight the issue of farm safety.
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