A dairy farmer from Portlaw in Co. Waterford, Shane Fitzgerald, has been named the Teagasc and FBD ‘Student of the Year’ for 2016.

The young farmer, who is 26-years-old, was presented with the award by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed; the Director of Teagasc, Prof. Gerry Boyle; and the CEO of FBD, Fiona Muldoon.

Fitzgerald previously studied a business degree at the Waterford Institute of Technology and then went on to study at Kildalton Agricultural College in Co. Kilkenny.


[yes-app]

[/yes-app]Farming alongside his father; Fitzgerald milks about 165 cows on a farm which is made up of close to 250ac, of both owned and rented land.

The young dairy farmer hopes to expand the operation in the coming years; he plans to be milking 200 cows by 2019.

Other finalists

In total there was 12 finalists nominated for the Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year awards. Six students were nominated from Teagasc colleges and the remaining six were nominated from regional education centres around the country.

A student from Mountbellew Agricultural College in Co. Galway, Gary Clarke, received the first runner-up award. Clarke, who lives near Tuam, recently converted from a suckler herd to a dairy herd.

Shane Dolan, a dairy farmer, who lives near Athlone in Co. Westmeath, picked up the second runner-up award.

Dolan studied Dairy Herd Management in Gurteen Agricultural College, near Roscrea in Co. Tipperary; he now manages a herd of 220 cows at home alongside his father.

Other Finalists:
  • Martin Alexander: Ballinacor, The Cross Roads, Killygordon, Lifford in Co. Donegal
  • Eamonn Gallagher: Cooladurragh, Conna, Mallow in Co. Cork
  • Linda Hanbidge: Brockna, Kiltegan, in Co. Wicklow
  • Robert Horan: Foyle, Ballinbarry, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
  • Melissa Jeuken: Green Road Farm, Kilnaboy in Co. Clare
  • John Kelly: Carrowgillpatrick, Dromard, Co. Sligo
  • Felicity O’Brien: Goulboy, Kiltimagh in Co. Mayo
  • Niall O’Sullivan: Upper Froe, Rosscarbery in Co. Cork
  • Ciaran Taaffe: Funshog, Collon in Co. Louth

Future business owners

Prior to the awards presentation, Minister Creed congratulated all the finalists on achieving such high standards.

“You are well placed to make a strong contribution to the development of the largest indigenous sector in the country.

“This expanding, export-orientated sector will benefit greatly from the skills, knowledge and enthusiasm that these young people will bring,” he said.

He also took the opportunity to commend Teagasc for its commitment to education and training in the agri-food sector.

Meanwhile, the finalists were also congratulated on their achievement by the Director of Teagasc, Prof. Gerry Boyle.

Today’s finalists like most Teagasc graduates are, or will become, the owners of a farm. Essentially Teagasc is educating future business owners.

“How we educate people for the role of business owner will be critically important.

“From a Teagasc perspective there will be a greater focus on developing the capability of its learners to identify and pursue business opportunities, to look at the world in new ways and to have confidence to adapt to change and challenges,” Prof. Boyle said.

Similar to all education institutions, Teagasc needs to reshape education approaches to meet 21st century needs, he added.

The Teagasc/FBD Student of Year awards has been supported by FBD for more than 30 years. This year’s competition was judged by the former President of Macra, Sean Finan; Donal O’Riordan, FBD; and Teagasc’s Head of Education, Tony Pettit.

‘A showcase of young Irish farmers’

The Student of the Year awards is a showcase of the potential of young farmers in Ireland, Petit said.

All of the finalists demonstrated their passion to improve and develop their farms; be they from a big farm or a small farm or engaged in full-time or part-time farming.

“This year’s winners represent the confidence and dynamism of the next generation of farmers,” he added.

Related Stories:
EDUCATION FBD STUDENT OF THE YEAR TEAGASC