The Irish Angus Producer Group’s stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships will feature an impressive display of elite Irish Angus cattle, exhibits from secondary school students taking part in the Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition and appearances from leading broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, TD, among others.
The stand will host six secondary school groups who are finalists in the Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competitionalongside the Irish Angus calves which they will rear for 18 months as part of this unique initiative. The students will be presented with the passports for their calves by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan at a special event for family and friends on the evening of Wednesday 19th September. Following the event, the groups will take the animals home where they will rear them to slaughter in the Autumn of 2019, assisting in their Agricultural Science studies for the Leaving Cert.
This is the fifth year of the competition run by Irish Angus Producer Group in association with ABP and Kepak, which aims to encourage second level students to gain an understanding about the care and attention that is required to produce and market the highest quality beef for consumers.
This year organisers were delighted to increase the number of finalist schools from five to six to include a group from St. Ita’s School in Drogheda, Co. Louth, a school for children with learning difficulties, who demonstrated great excitement and enthusiasm for the project. The other schools include Roscommon Community College; St. Josephs Mercy Secondary School, Navan; Royal School Cavan; Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna and Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk.
On the afternoon Thursday 20th September, Helen McEntee, TD, Minister for European Affairs will visit the stand to announce the details of the 2019 competition. The Minister will meet the groups taking part in this years competition and take part in a photo launch with students and competition organisers.
In addition, twenty of Ireland’s top Irish Angus cattle, including the champions from the Irish Angus All-Ireland competition at Strokestown Show and the Irish Angus Championship at Iverk Show will be on display. The owners and breeders of these cattle, along with the Irish Angus Producer Group and their processing partners, ABP and Kepak will be on hand to offer advice and tips to farmers on the merits of Irish Angus and details of the guaranteed premium available to Irish Angus farmers.