The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association and Irish Countrywomen’s Association, returns to the National Ploughing Championships again this year.

The competition is sponsored by Aldi and the top baker on the day will win €2,500 in cash and €2,500 in Aldi shopping vouchers, plus 10% of the profits when their bread is stocked in Aldi. The prize for second place is €1,000, €500 for third, €300 for fourth and the other semi-finalists will all get €200 each.

The qualifiers will be held nationwide through the ICA, with the regionals taking place in An Grianán, Co Louth, on 13 August.

Aldi has also announced that it will sponsor the National Junior Baking Competition, in association with Foróige, Ireland’s leading youth organisation, at the Ploughing Championships this year. The theme is county cakes and the prize is a KitchenAid stand mixer as well as a trip for their local Foróige club or a group trip to Delphi Adventure Centre in Co Mayo.

Visit www.npa.ie for more information and contact your local ICA or Foróige for details on qualifiers in your area.