The final six contestants for this year’s FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards have been announced this afternoon.
The annual Macra na Feirme FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards are taking place today in the Dunraven Arms hotel in Adare, Co Limerick. Some 23 young farmers went through to the semi-final stage of the competition and the six finalists were announced shortly after 2pm.
The six finalists include: John Buckley Carbery, Cork; Ester Walsh, Waterford; Thomas Hasset, Kilkenny; Edward Payne, Roscommon; Peter Farrell, Meath; and Richard Bond, Laois.
The final six will undergo the final interview stage this afternoon and the 2013 FBD Young Farmer of the Year will be announced at a gala banquet in the Dunraven Arms hotel tonight.
Minister Hayes will attend the gala banquet and address the young farmers and guests. Edmond Harty, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, and CEO and Technical Director of Dairymaster, will chair the final adjudication panel which includes Eoin Lowry, Irish Farmers Journal; Joe Burke, Bord Bia; Philip O’Connor of IFAC Accountants; with Joe Healy and Thomas Honner, both past presidents of Macra na Feirme.
AgriLand will be reporting live from the event, we are currently in transit.
The winner of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year will be announced later tonight.
AgriLand will also be covering the first official debate of the IFA Elections at 5pm with the contenders.