This year’s FBD Young Farmer of the Year finalists have been announced, and the winner will be named tonight (September 6) at the Boyne Valley Hotel and Country Club in Drogheda, Co. Louth.

The winner will take home a travel bursary worth €3,000 to undertake international travel and study farm practices and there will be sector prizes for dairy, beef, sheep and tillage/other.

The six finalists are as follows:

  • Kevin Moran, Mayo.
  • Michael Kenny, Offaly.
  • Stephen Robb, Donegal.
  • Thomas Duffy, Cavan.
  • Brian Keegan, Kildare.
  • Matty John Kelly, Roscommon.

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards is run by Macra na Feirme in partnership with the IFA. The aim of the competition is to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country.

Entrants are judged according to a number of criteria including 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.

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards are an opportunity for young farmers to represent their county and their enterprise while receiving an independent review and advice on their farm.

County finalists were chosen in each enterprise, beef, tillage, dairy, sheep and other (pigs, poultry, horticulture) to go forward to the semi-finals.