The Hereford society held its third annual bursary competition at the National Ploughing Championships in Offaly and awarded five €1,000 bursaries to successful applicants undertaking third-level degrees in agriculture or studying at agricultural college.

After a slight rejig, given the National Ploughing Championship cancellation on Wednesday, the event was relocated to the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Ten finalists were selected after applicants submitted essays on the topic of a young farmer’s opportunities and challenges in beef farming.

A team of adjudicators, including chair of the Agricultural Trust Matt Dempsey, then whittled down the applicants to just five, who received their bursary after Mr Dempsey questioned them publicly on their essay.

The candidates then had a nerve-wracking wait for the selection process to be completed and the winners announced.

The winners of the bursaries were Anna Jacob, Ciaran Moore, Diarmúid McDonald, Eoin McCormack and Niall Woods.

The runners-up were Aideen Barry, Eugene Costello, Neil Maher, Orla Hayes and Sarah Donnelly.

Lidl Ireland and Slaney Foods supported the bursary competition, with vice-president of the Hereford society Henry Dudley commenting on the continued strength of the competition.

“Together with our partners, we are very pleased with the response to the competition and with the efforts of the young aspiring agricultural enthusiasts who participated,” said Henry.

“We wish the five winners and the five runners-up, all of whom reached a very high standard, every success in their chosen career path.

“The challenges arising for agriculture into the future will require increased education, particularly in agricultural science,” he said.

“We are confident that this competition has succeeded in highlighting the great need for further education in agriculture to meet the needs of a growing population.”

The Secretary of the Hereford Society Larry Feeney, also commented on the continued success of the competition.

“The society is thrilled with the interest the bursary competition has generated this year which saw the number of entries increase yet again from that of 2017,” Feeney told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“We’d like to extend a massive thanks to our partners Slaney Foods International and Lidl Ireland as without their generosity it would not be possible to maintain this annual competition. Now in it’s third consecutive year, we look forward to running the competition again next year and hope that the number of participants continue to increase.”

Feeney added that the strength of the Society was continuing to be reflected in the strong number of Hereford calf registrations this year and complimented the work and effort of breeders at this year’s National Ploughing Championship stand.