The winners of the Women & Agriculture Awards, sponsored by FBD Insurance, were announced this evening at a virtual award ceremony on www.ifj.ie/awards.

Women & Ag Awards 2020.

Catherine O’Grady Powers of Glen Keen Farm & Visitor Centre, Co Mayo, took home the top spot in the Innovation on Farm Category, with Norma Dinneen of Bó Rua Farm, Co Cork, the runner-up.

Anne Marie Feighery of Feighery Farm Beetroot Juice won the Innovation in Agriculture & Food Category. \ Philip Doyle

Anne Marie Feighery of Feighrey’s Farm Beetroot Juice, Co Offaly was victorious in the Innovation in Agriculture & Food Category, while Mary Fogarty of the Cottage Loughmore, Co Tipperary was the runner-up.

Phyllis Connoly and Mary Fogarty, The Cottage, Loughmore, Co Tipperary. Mary was the runner-up in the Agriculture & Food Category. \ Donal O' Leary

The finalists in Innovation on Farm were: Kylie Magner, Magners Farm; Ailbhe Gerrard, Brookfield Farm and Caitriona Considine, Moher Cottage.

Kylie Magner, Magners Farm, was a finalist in Innovation on Farm. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash

The finalists in Innovation in Agriculture & Food were: Eva Milka, Gaelic Escargot; Teresa Roche, Kylemore Farmhouse Cheese; Caroline Whelan, Galway Pumpkin Patch and Marita Collier, Drummond House Garlic.

Eva Milka, Gaelic Escargot was a finalist in Agriculture and Food. \ Philip Doyle

Teresa Roche, Kylemore Cheese, Co Galway was a finalist in Agriculture & Food. \ David Ruffles

Judging

The judging panel was comprised of; Maureen O’ Meara, head of sales at FBD Insurance, Munster; Eddie O’ Neill, artisan food specialist with Teagasc and Mairead Lavery, journalist at Irish Country Living in the Irish Farmers Journal.

Although the bi-annual awards were announced virtually this year. The judging panel, however, was able to pay each of the finalists a socially distanced visit in recent months when restrictions had eased.

Caroline Whelan, Galway Pumpkin Patch, Ardrahan, Co Galway was a finalist in Agriculture & Food. \ David Ruffles

The awards were hosted by editor of Irish Country Living, Amii McKeever.

The guest speaker on the night was Caroline Murphy of West Cork Eggs.

Prizes

The prize fund for the 2020 Women & Agriculture Awards was kindly sponsored by FBD Insurance and is to the value of over €8,000.

Kevin amd Caitriona Considine at Moher Cottage, Co Clare. Caitriona was a finalist in Innovation on Farm.

Both winners will receive a cash prize of €2,500, a commemorative plaque and a front cover feature in Irish Country Living, which they will receive a framed copy of.

Ailbhe Gerrard, Brookfield farm was a finalist in Innovation on Farm.

The runners-up will receive a cash prize of €1,000, a commemorative plaque and a feature in Irish Country Living.

Norma and Tom Dinneen from Bó Rua Farm. Norma was the runner-up in the Innovation on Farm Category.

Each finalist will receive a commemorative certificate of achievement and a hamper of Irish Farmers Journal and Irish Country Living goodies.

Marita Collier, Drummond House Garlic was a finalist in Agriculture and Food.

Keep an eye out in future editions of Irish Country Living for features on the winners and runners-up.

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