Students awarded for art of farming

Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent

Siobhán O’Brien, whose art piece demonstrated the link between farming and the everyday food products people consume, was named the winner of the Agri-Aware-FBD Springtime on the Farm competition at the Irish Farm Centre in Dublin.

In a creative writing competition which encouraged children to explore a day in the life of a farmer, Lisa Ní Bhuacalla, a second class pupil from Gaelscoil Thomáis Dáibhís in Mallow, was the overall winner for the Munster region.

Her school will receive a visit from the Agri-Aware Mobile Farm Unit.

Agri-Aware chairman TJ Maher said the standard of entries was incredibly high.

“The educational initiative aims to provide primary school teachers with information on farming to educate tomorrow’s consumers about the important role farmers play in producing safe, quality food,” he said.

FBD trust secretary David Flynn said the company had been associated with Springtime on the Farm for the past five years.

“We are very conscious of the issues in agriculture and farming and we are pleased to support Agri-Aware in this initiative, which encourages our younger generation to understand and appreciate agriculture.

“This competition gives children from all backgrounds an opportunity to express what agriculture and farming means to them. We are very impressed with the number and standard of entries received this year.”