Author: National Ploughing Association

90% Stand Space Booked!

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A FIRST FOR PLOUGHING – OVER 90% OF STAND SPACE BOOKED BEFORE END OF MAY
NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “Due to unprecedented demand bookings for this year’s Ploughing Championships are up almost 30% on this time last year.  We are delighted that so many have already committed to Ploughing because that is a real seal of approval for the event.  It is the primary aim of the NPA to make the event better every year for visitors and exhibitors alike and early bookings gives us much more design time.”

This year the core agricultural machinery companies, as always will be the anchor exhibitors of the championships showcasing hundreds of thousands of euros worth of the latest technology.  The NPA are also at the planning stage of a few new initiatives in the machinery sector of the event which will add an interesting dimension together with a range of new exhibitors featuring in Screggan this September creating a thrilling mix for visitors.

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With record crowds of 281,000 visitors in attendance last year and excitement building already about this year’s new venue, signals would suggest another “great ploughing” is on the way.

The Livestock Arena, Food and Lifestyle Villages are almost fully booked with the huge “dome” back again featuring over 100 exhibitors.  The motor arena will be significantly bigger following hugely positive feedback in this sector last year.

All of the firm favourite traditional attractions are set to return this year such as Meggers, Sheep Shearing, Hunt Chase, Pony Games, Live Music and Dancing, Vintage Ploughing, Threshing, Sheep Dog Trials and Loy Digging.

In the ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland bringing the number preparing to plough in Offaly over 300 for the 3 days.

Brown Bread Comp Returns!

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THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL BROWN BREAD BAKING COMPETITION MAKES A WELCOME RETURN TO THIS YEAR’S PLOUGHING

The NPA are delighted to announce that due to great demand “The National Brown Bread Baking Competition” is back again at this year’s Ploughing Championships. The Competition, which is sponsored by Aldi in association with the ICA, has proven to be a tremendous success since it returned to Ploughing in 2014.

This year’s prize pot will increase significantly to over €15,000, with the winner receiving €5,000 in cash plus Ireland’s Best Brown Bread Baker 2016 will have the prestige of selling their bread in Aldi stores throughout the country and receiving at least €5,000 worth of profits when their bread is stocked in stores*.

The qualifiers of The National Brown Bread Baking Competition are currently being held nationwide through the ICA, with 27 finalists taking part in the Regional final in An Grianán in Co. Louth on the 4th of August..

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The semi-finals and finals of this exciting competition will take place live in the Aldi Marquee at this year’s 85th National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly from September 20th – 22nd .

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NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to be renewing our partnership with Aldi and the ICA given the popularity and success of the Brown Bread Baking competition at Ploughing. The total attendance figures for the 2015 Ploughing Championship came to a record breaking 281,000 and this year’s Championships look set to be bigger and better than ever.”

Innovation Arena Awards

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€65,000 in prizes available to innovative agri companies

The National Ploughing Championships Innovation Arena Awards, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmer’s Journal, has opened for applications. Irish agri companies are invited to showcase their products and innovations at the heart of the NPA Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on September 20th-22nd 2016. Innovation Awards winners will be announced across a range of categories including ‘Agri Engineering’ and ‘Sustainable Agriculture’ and will be eligible to win up to €15,000 as a top prize.  This year, for the first time, applications are encouraged from International entrants competing globally for a specific category award.

The Innovation Arena is the ideal place to showcase ground-breaking agri-related developments, whether they are backyard inventions or professional innovations, to the thousands of visitors the National Ploughing Championships attract each year. It puts Irish agri innovations on a global stage and facilitates networks that have helped individuals and companies to achieve commercial success. Last year’s competition attracted 170 entries; 54 were shortlisted as 2015 finalists and invited to exhibit in the Innovation Arena.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland said “The agri sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy and the Innovation Arena is a key event for Enterprise Ireland where we showcase the top Irish agri innovations. Each year the Innovation Arena is going from strength to strength; last year the number of entries doubled and we expect an equally strong response to the Innovation Arena this year.”

Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships said: “The NPA are delighted to join forces again with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmers Journal for this year’s Innovation Arena. The Innovation Arena provides entrepreneurs and innovators with an excellent platform to showcase their businesses to those that attend the National Ploughing Championships every year”.

The 2016 NPA Innovation Arena prize fund equates to over €65,000 in supports. The overall award winner will receive a top prize worth €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Farmers Journal which includes advertising and PR support, mentoring and a cash prize of €5,000. All finalists will receive €500 worth of advertising vouchers to promote their innovation through the Irish Farmers Journal.