The five new competition finalists in the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition were presented with Angus calves at an event which took place at the National Ploughing Championships today (Wednesday, September 18).
2024 is a milestone year for the prestigious event, as it marks a decade since the popular schools competition first began.
To mark the occasion, a panel discussion took place at the Certified Irish Angus stand with past participants who have gone on to pursue careers in the agri-industry.
The panel discussion was hosted by agri-food journalist and broadcaster Suzanne Campbell.
The five new secondary schools selected as finalists for the next instalment of the prestigious initiative were also introduced.
The student groups from Galway, Wexford, Tipperary, Cork and Offaly schools were selected from a total of 155 entries after a rigorous three-stage judging process.
The schools each received five Irish Angus-cross calves, which they will rear throughout the competition.
The students are also exhibiting the projects they will complete during the course of the competition on the Certified Irish Angus stand throughout the three days of the National Ploughing Championships.
The Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, supported by ABP and Kepak was first introduced to secondary school students in Ireland in 2014.
The initiative was designed to teach students about the care and attention required to produce top-quality beef has since engaged with more than 3,600 students.
The five schools announced to take part in the next instalment of the Certified Irish Angus Schools’ Competition include:
- Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar, Co. Galway. Students: Celine Gacquin, Roisín McCauley and Kate Ann Gacquin;
- FJC Secondary School, Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Students: Hollie-Mae Power Sinnott and Grace Warren;
- Newport College, Tipperary. Students: Cillian Marren, Sam Caplis and Kyle Gow;
- Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Students: Lucy Kirby, Ciara O’Driscoll, Niamh O’Sullivan and Ellen O’Neill;
- St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr, Co. Offaly. Students: Jack O’Meara, Moya Guinan, Joesph McLoughney and Ben Younge.
The Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, run by Certified Irish Angus and its processor partners, ABP and Kepak, aims to encourage second-level students to understand the considerable care and attention required to produce and market the highest-quality beef for consumers.
In addition to rearing the calves, the students will complete research projects focusing on different aspects of farming, the food chain, and sustainability.
Each finalist will receive the financial benefit of selling the animals to the processors upon the project’s completion. The winning students also receive an additional grant of €2,000 for their further education.
Certified Irish Angus Elite Breed Improvement Programme
In addition to the schools’ competition activity at the National Ploughing Championships, Certified Irish Angus is also educating visitors about its innovative breed improvement programme, which is the first of its kind for any breed in Ireland.
The programme aims to enhance the genetics of Angus cross cattle in order to reduce carbon emissions and provide a cross-sectoral solution that will benefit Pedigree breeders, dairy farmers, and beef producers.
The Certified Irish Angus Elite Breed Improvement Programme rewards breeders through subsided sexed male semen and a €200 premium on every participating bull.
The programme aims to achieve a 9% reduction in GHG emissions per kilo of beef while highlighting the substantial financial and environmental improvements that can be made through genetics.