Invitation for FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2015

There are less than two weeks to go before the deadline for entry by local young farmers to the 17th FBD Young Farmer of the Year Competition, writes Aoife Helly of Macra na Feirme.

Young farmers in Kildare who are actively involved in the running of a farm, full or part time, are invited to apply.

There are prizes for all farm sectors as well as a top prize of a travel bursary and title of FBD Young Farmer of the Year. County finalists in all sectors will compete to represent their sector at the All-Ireland event in September.

This year, a representative from each sector will be chosen in every county and they will benefit from a targeted regional technical day. There, they will develop their specific skills and compete against their counterparts from other counties. That means more than one young farmer from Kildare could be in the final six.

Entrants are judged according to criteria which include farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness, and agricultural knowledge and community involvement.

Forms are available from Macra na Feirme national office by phoning 01-426 8900, from your local IFA or FBD offices and for download on macra.ie. You can also apply online on macra.ie. The closing date for applications and nominations is the 5th June 2015.

Pictured at the competition launch are Brian Scully, FBD; Nyall Glynn, Kildare FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2014; Thomas O’ Conner, Chairman of South Kildare Macra; and Eugene Lawlor, IFA.