Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:38:00 IST
Mayo Man named FBD Young Farmer of the Year
Timothy Quinn a 34 year old dairy and beef farmer from Claremorris in county Mayo has been named the 2008 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.
The announcement was made by former Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, chair of the final judging panel on Tuesday, September 2nd at an awards ceremony in the Newpark hotel, Co. Kilkenny.
Timothy has now won the top prize of a specially commissioned sculpture by Irish-based artist Joy Ledin, a travel bursary worth €2,500 and €1,000 spending money. Substantial prizes were also awarded to second James Patrick Croke a 32-year-old dairy and beef farmer from South Tipperary and third place winner Sean O’Brien from Imokilly in county Cork, Sean is a 30 year old Dairy and Beef farmer.
Shane McKeon a 21-year-old cattle and sheep farmer from Leitrim won the Special Prize for Community Involvement while Noel McCall a 33-year-old dairy farmer from Kilpoole lower county Wicklow won the Award for Innovation in Farming.
Twenty-nine contestants from all over Ireland took part in the 10th year’s FBD Young Farmer of the Year final. The competition aims to recognise excellence in the agricultural industry and promote farming as a career with a bright future.
Six overall finalists were interviewed by a judging panel chaired by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern including Willie Fahey (IFAC Chief Executive), Dr. Seamus Crosse (Director of Agriculture Research at Teagasc), Donal Fitzgibbon (Business and Community Training Consultant), Justin McCarthy (Livestock editor, Irish Farmers Journal); and two observers and former Macra na Feirme presidents Seamus Phelan (chairperson of the Farm Apprenticeship Board) and Joe Healy (correspondent with the Irish Independent). The contestants’ were adjudicated according to specific criteria including innovation in farm business management, efficiency in farming, farm safety, environmental protection awareness, agricultural knowledge and community involvement.
Speaking at the event, Christy Doherty of FBD Insurance said:
"Each year, through the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, we encounter committed, enthusiastic young farmers, who look on farming as a business that must deliver an acceptable return on investment. At FBD we are delighted to support this very important competition which recognises and encourages professionalism, commitment and new initiatives within farming."
Macra na Feirme president, Catherine Buckley, praised the enthusiasm of the farmers who had made it through to the national final.
"The 'FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards' promotes excellence among young progressive farmers and recognises their commitment to both the agricultural industry and their local communities. The farmers entering this competition are a perfect example of the types of young people making a career out of agriculture. Farming is a challenging profession but it is important to highlight the fact that there are many highly educated and skilled young people choosing agriculture as a career and making a success of it," she said.
IFA President Padraig Walshe said that the calibre of the contestants in the FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition underlined the strength of farming in Ireland.