Bertie Ahern to chair Young Farmer of the Year adjudication panel

MACRA na Feirme announced that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will chair the final adjudication panel at the Young Farmer of the Year awards in Kilkenny next month.

The aim of the event, run by Macra in partnership with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and sponsored by FBD Insurance, is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country.

County rounds of the competition are ongoing. 29 farmers will progress to the final to where they will judged according to various criteria.

These include farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness, as well as agricultural knowledge and community involvement.

Macra president Catherine Buckley said it is important to highlight the positive aspects of farming, which offers a varied and challenging work environment and is still a viable profession.

“It’s vital that we acknowledge the many highly educated young people that have embarked on a successful career in farming,” she said.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the young farmer competition has been a big success in terms of recognising and rewarding the industry’s best young farmers.

FBD company secretary Conor Gouldson said: “Farming is at the core of FBD’s success and young farmers are essential for the continued growth and development in this sector.”

The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, on September 2.

Top prize is a sculpture by Irish-based artist Joy Ledin, a travel bursary worth €2,500 and €1,000 spending money.

Second prize is a travel bursary of €1,000, plus €500 spending money, while third prize is a €500 travel bursary, plus €250.