'Whirlwind' win for Kilkenny student

The Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year award remains the benchmark for agriculture students in Teagasc colleges across the country. Once again, the competition for this prestigious award remained high. A total of 16 finalists were shortlisted, and the event took place last week at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin. The awards are handed out to the top graduates of Teagasc’s Level 6 agricultural training programmes each year.

In the end, it was Killkenny farmer Paul Bowden who was crowded as the Student of the Year. Paul completed Teagasc’s Level 6 advanced dairy management course with distinction at Kildalton College last year, and farms dairy and beef in partnership with his parents.

After completing work experience locally and in New Zealand during his course, the Urlingford native said that the family is now reducing the size of their beef operation to expand the 100-cow dairy herd from their own replacements.

The first runner-up in the competition was Jennifer Aherne from Cappamore, Co Limerick, who completed a Level 6 certificate in farm administration with distinction in Ennis. The second runner-up was Karl Heaslip from Crosserlough, Co Cavan, who completed the advanced dairy management course in Ballyhaise with distinction.

“I farm in partnership with my father Denis and mother Eileen, and we are currently milking 110 cows. I was always interested in farming. After finishing secondary school I attended GMIT Letterfrack, where I completed a degree in furniture design and manufacture. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and made some lifelong friends.

“The course has definitely stood to me, as we were trained to take pride in every piece that we made and put a good value on our time – something that I don’t think we are great at in the agriculture industry.

“I don’t think that the few years of college life away from home did me any harm either.

“Following my time in Letterfrack and a year working in the furniture industry, I enrolled in a full-time course at Kildalton. It wasn’t that I had a change of heart or anything, that was always my plan.

“I had a great time at Kildalton and I especially enjoyed second year. It was much more focused on dairy and I was surrounded by like-minded people.

“The technical skills that we were taught there have stood to me since I left. From grassland management and soil fertility, to profit monitors and sire selection – they all play an important role on our farm. Both of my placements were an eye-opener for me. From milking 200 cows in Freshford, to milking 2,200 cows in New Zealand, there were plenty of things that I learned.

“Looking to the future, I’d like to increase the kilograms of milk solids sold per hectare, increase the tonnage of grass utilised per hectare, and reduce the annual labour hours per cow. The environment is going to dictate the direction that the industry will take in the future, so I think that we should try to increase our positive impact on the environment.

“I’m a big fan of a simple system, where a farm only has three batches of animals (cows, heifers and calves), and that’s the direction that we’re heading in.

“Winning the award has actually been a bit of a whirlwind. I’m delighted. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the staff of Kildalton, my family and all of the people that I’ve learned from along the way. I’ve been inundated with calls and texts of well wishes from friends, relatives and neighbours.

“I honestly didn’t expect half the fuss.”

“Currently, I run the family farm in partnership with my parents, Seamus and Una. We set up the partnership to help with the transition of ownership and continue the transfer of knowledge.

“We breed a pedigree Simmental herd. I grew up on a dairy farm where we always ran a Simmental bull with the dairy cows and this sparked my interest in the breed. We ran the dairy herd until 2008, but since then we have expanded the pedigree side of the farm.

“I work full-time off-farm, but I help out on the farm as much as possible. My boss is very understanding and knows my future lies in full-time farming, so getting time off is generally not a problem, which is great.

“I chose the Green Cert part-time course at Ennis because it gave me the flexibility to hold down a full-time job and work on the family farm. I found the course very beneficial in improving and increasing my skillset.

“It has helped me put a greater focus on the importance of grassland management and soil fertility, and greater monitoring of outputs versus inputs.

“In terms of my future, there is no doubt beef is under pressure at the moment. The uncertainty of Brexit looms over us daily, but we produce some of the highest quality and environmentally efficient beef here in Ireland, so sourcing markets for our superior product shouldn’t be an issue. I intend to take over the farm full time and would hope to expand and increase from current stock numbers, with a greater focus on trying to reduce inputs and increase sustainability.

“Getting the first runner-up prize in this competition was great. Our group in Ennis had to be divided into three classes, as it was such a large group (70-80 students). So to win the Clare student of the year was a great honour.

“However, to go one better and be first runner-up in Ireland was a shock and an unbelievable honour. I was immensely proud as I was one of only two women to make the final 16 and to then make the top three was superb. It’s great to see more and more women being recognised within the agricultural industry.”

“I grew up on a family farm with a 70-cow dairy herd in the heart of Cavan. From a young age all I wanted to do was be out on the farm and I always had a strong interest in farming and working with animals. I was never a fan of being indoors, so I could never really see myself doing anything else apart from farming.

“After completing my leaving certificate, I thought about getting a job in the agricultural industry, to gain some experience off-farm. I had put down agri-business and rural enterprise at Mountbellew Agricultural college as my first choice on the CAO. I was offered the course, but at the last minute I turned it down as I didn’t feel it was the right path for me. I decided instead to take up the Level 6 in dairy herd management at Ballyhaise College, a two-year course. On reflection, I’m delighted with my decision.

“On completing this course, it has made me determined to become a successful dairy farmer in the future, so much so that I am currently in first year of the professional diploma in dairy farm management. I feel this course can open up many opportunities for me in the future.

“My intention is to travel abroad in the near future as part of my college placement, to experience dairy farming in different countries.

“In five years’ time I hope to be managing the home farm alongside my parents, and upscaling our farm operations. I would like to see the farm become more productive, efficient and profitable. Certainly, the knowledge and experience I have gained from my college and farm placement will allow me to do this.

“Being the second runner-up in a competition like this is an honour for me. I am a firm believer that hard work pays off in the long run, and it has for me so far.”