Christopher Tuffy, a dairy farmer from Enniscrone, Co Sligo, was crowned the 2022 FBD Young Farmer of the Year at a ceremony in Co Cork on Tuesday night.

Milking 150 cows on a leased farm at Enniscrone, the spring-calving dairy farmer farms alongside his parents, partner Eimear and baby Iarlaith. Christopher plays football with Enniscrone/Kilglass GAA.

Bill Gleeson from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was first runner-up, while Edward Treanor from Co Monaghan was second runner-up.

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Category winners

  • Christopher Tuffy won the dairy category.
  • Michael Quigley won the land mobility category.
  • Edward Roe won the drystock category.
  • Frank Melody won the other enterprises category.
  • Kieran Dunphy won the best new entrant award.

    • Biodiversity Young Farmer of the Year.

    Andrew McMenamin from Co Donegal was named the 2022 National Rural Network Biodiversity Farmer of the Year.

    McMenamin works on his family’s farm, a calf-to-beef farm, buying from local dairy farmers and finishing all stock. He buys in 30 calves per year and aims to finish as many as he can off grass before the second winter.

    The award recognises a young farmer who is farming in a sustainable manner to protect the environment and actively tries to enhance the biodiversity potential of their farms.

    The six finalists

    The six finalists were:

  • Edward Treanor - Monaghan.
  • Christopher Tuffy - Sligo.
  • Caroline O’Keeffe - Avondhu, Cork.
  • Edward Roe - north Tipperary.
  • Joe Hughes - Wicklow.
  • Bill Gleeson - north Tipperary.