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I farm: “At home with my father (Larry) but I have my own herd number. Dad has just over 100 calves and weanlings, mainly Angus, and he pays me to help on the farm. I rent 40 acres off him and last year I bought 15 weanlings and finished them.”
Future in farming: “This year I’m going to increase my own numbers. I’d like to have my own suckler herd in the next five to ten years with mainly Hereford and Angus-type animals. With Brexit it is hard to say how beef prices will go but we would keep our overheads very low and keep the cattle outside mostly.”
I studied: “Equine science in UL which counted as my Green Cert. I spent a year down in Ballylinch stud in Kilkenny on experience and had a ball.”
Macra: “Macra has kind of taken over for me in the last year, I’ve been involved in the national bowling and volleyball competitions. I’m club PRO in Ballinagore Macra, which is the only real active club in the county, with some people travelling up to an hour to get to meetings. I’d love to see more people get involved.”
WR Shaw Queen of the Land: “When I entered Queen of the Land I wanted to get to know other women that were interested in farming. When I would start talking about farming in college, it usually fell on deaf ears. What we saw at the weekend in Tullamore was a celebration of women in agriculture from all over Ireland. I’d never met Anna Marie McHugh (judge) before, but she is an absolute inspiration to women in ag; she has so much drive and passion.”
Quotable quote: “My plan for the year ahead is to really push the Skillnet programme in Macra.”
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