I farm: “A small herd of 30 ewes. I started sheep farming last year with 15 ewes and I am leasing 30ac of land in Swanlinbar.”

This week: “I’m going to the Ploughing Championships. I go every year. The machinery section is my favourite. I’ll be going with my boyfriend Conor and his family.”

Sheep breeds: “I have Suffolk sheep. I have the ram out with the ewes for the last month. He is a purebred Suffolk ram.”

Lambing: “Last year lambing happened in February and March within a four-week period. I took two weeks off my off-farm management job with Lidl to lamb them. We will probably keep about 20 of next year’s lambs for replacements and sell the rest on.”

FBD Young Sheep Farmer of the Year: “I won the FBD Young Sheep Farmer of the Year last week. I was extremely surprised. After talking to others who took part in previous years, they all said it was a great experience so I entered it myself.”

Future ambitions: “I have a 10-year plan. After 10 years I am hoping to be milking ewes and use that milk to potentially make artisan cheese. I hope to have 140 sheep after five years and to be over 300 in year 10.”

Italian roots: “My dad is Italian and mam is Irish. I was born here and lived in Italy for seven years. We had a small farm in Italy, mostly poultry and pigs. I don’t see myself returning to Italy as it’s very different to here, in parts they are still milking cows by hand.”

Education: “I have a BSc in Agriculture from Dundalk IT and I am currently in college studying a BA in retail management.”