This week, Irish Country Living meets Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co Wicklow, another winning team from the ag science student competition which is organised by Irish Aberdeen Angus Producers Ltd in co-operation with ABP Ireland, the Kepak Group and Bord Bia. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of the certified Angus beef (CAB) scheme.
Making up this week’s winning team are Tommy McGing, Una Sinnott and Padraig Doyle from Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co Wicklow. Padraig found out about the competition first and got the principal of the school to announce it. Three teams from Coláiste Bhríde entered and they were delighted to have one winner.
Ag science is very popular in Coláiste Bhríde. “In fifth year this year we actually have two ag science classes,” says Miriam Rickerby, a science teacher. According to Miriam, Una, Padraig and Tommy are very motivated and innovative students.
They even made a movie for their presentation and are all from farming backgrounds. Miriam hopes that the project will raise the profile of the school and that it will give the students something to focus on.
In the past they have had “young farmers who are tempted to leave school after the Junior Certificate or after TY year”. This project will act as an incentive for students to stay in school and complete their agricultural science project. It also brings them out of the classroom and allows the students to build confidence and make new contacts.
“Agriculture is in our blood,” says Una, who plans to convert to Angus on her own farm. Angus may not be the largest animal in the field, but they reckon it will definitely help their bank balance in the long run. Not only that, but when these students go away to college, they want to have easy-going, hardy animals at home that don’t need constant attention. They plan to get more farmers “on board with the Angus breed as they have the carcase that big processors are looking for.”
Coláiste Bhríde’s project will focus on marketing, looking at texture, taste and tenderness. They will do some research with consumers and find out what people find desirable so that they can promote Certified Irish Angus Beef. Coláiste Bhríde also plan to do their next Young Scientist project on the Angus breed and its future in Irish farming.
Padraig and Tommy told Irish Country Living that the calves will stay on Padraig’s farm. But they all live within a few miles of each other, so looking after the calves won’t be a problem.
Competition
Five winning schools will be presented with five Angus cross calves, each worth a total of €2,000, at the National Ploughing Championships this September. They will rear the calves for a year and a half before they are ready for slaughter.
Each team will do a project about beef rearing and in March 2016 they will present their research to a panel who will select an overall winner.
This week, Irish Country Living meets Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co Wicklow, another winning team from the ag science student competition which is organised by Irish Aberdeen Angus Producers Ltd in co-operation with ABP Ireland, the Kepak Group and Bord Bia. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of the certified Angus beef (CAB) scheme.
Making up this week’s winning team are Tommy McGing, Una Sinnott and Padraig Doyle from Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co Wicklow. Padraig found out about the competition first and got the principal of the school to announce it. Three teams from Coláiste Bhríde entered and they were delighted to have one winner.
Ag science is very popular in Coláiste Bhríde. “In fifth year this year we actually have two ag science classes,” says Miriam Rickerby, a science teacher. According to Miriam, Una, Padraig and Tommy are very motivated and innovative students.
They even made a movie for their presentation and are all from farming backgrounds. Miriam hopes that the project will raise the profile of the school and that it will give the students something to focus on.
In the past they have had “young farmers who are tempted to leave school after the Junior Certificate or after TY year”. This project will act as an incentive for students to stay in school and complete their agricultural science project. It also brings them out of the classroom and allows the students to build confidence and make new contacts.
“Agriculture is in our blood,” says Una, who plans to convert to Angus on her own farm. Angus may not be the largest animal in the field, but they reckon it will definitely help their bank balance in the long run. Not only that, but when these students go away to college, they want to have easy-going, hardy animals at home that don’t need constant attention. They plan to get more farmers “on board with the Angus breed as they have the carcase that big processors are looking for.”
Coláiste Bhríde’s project will focus on marketing, looking at texture, taste and tenderness. They will do some research with consumers and find out what people find desirable so that they can promote Certified Irish Angus Beef. Coláiste Bhríde also plan to do their next Young Scientist project on the Angus breed and its future in Irish farming.
Padraig and Tommy told Irish Country Living that the calves will stay on Padraig’s farm. But they all live within a few miles of each other, so looking after the calves won’t be a problem.
Competition
Five winning schools will be presented with five Angus cross calves, each worth a total of €2,000, at the National Ploughing Championships this September. They will rear the calves for a year and a half before they are ready for slaughter.
Each team will do a project about beef rearing and in March 2016 they will present their research to a panel who will select an overall winner.
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