Marty Morrissey to present 2024 Young Farmer of the Year award
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The final of the 26th FBD Young Farmer of the Year will be announced this year by Irish telly legend Marty Morrissey on Tuesday, September 10 in the Heritage hotel, Laois.
The awards which are run by Macra in partnership with the IFA and Macra Agricultural Skillnet and sponsored annually by FBD, and aim to raise the profile of young farmers within their community by recognising their achievements and contribution to farming.
The semi-final took place on August 13 in the Killeshin hotel where ten semi-finalists were interviewed: Charlene Powell from Tipperary, Christopher Cahill from Meath, David Melody from Kilkenny, Heather O’Connell from Cork, Jamie Hannon from Sligo, Martin O’Reilly from Laois, Patrick Greenan from Monaghan, Sarah Kelly from Sligo, Séamus Leahy from Limerick and Thomas Hayes from Tipperary.
UCD's Professor Karina Pierce will lead the judging panel this year with the six finalists to be announced at lunchtime on Tuesday, September 10. The six will then complete their final interview on Tuesday afternoon before the announcement of the winners on Tuesday evening.
The competition features category awards for Dairy, Drystock (Beef and Sheep), Other Enterprises (including Horticulture, Pigs, Poultry, Tillage, Equine, Forestry, etc.), Land Mobility (including Collaborative Arrangements, Shared Milking, Contract Rearing, etc.) and Career Farm Management, as well as awards for Best Young Entrant (Under 23 years of age) and Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award.
FBD Insurance chief executive Tomás Ó'Midheach congratulated all who had entered and those who had made it to the finals of the competition: "At FBD Insurance, we understand the importance of supporting Ireland’s young farmers and to help showcase innovation and sustainability in Irish farming. They are all fantastic ambassadors for Irish farming, and we wish all applicants every success in the future.”
As always, this year’s competition features exciting prizes. The overall prize fund includes a pot of cash prizes along with FBD insurance and hotel vouchers for category winners. The overall winner of the 2024 FBD Young Farmer of the Year Award will receive €5000, with each category winner and the Best Young Entrant Farmer taking home €1000.
The Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award winner will receive €500. Each winner will also receive vouchers from the FBD Hotel Group and FBD Insurance.
Macra National president Elaine Houlihan said the FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards were one of the main highlights in the Macra calendar.
"I would like to congratulate every young person who entered the competition this year, and I would like to wish our semi-finalists the very best of luck as they wait until next Tuesday to find out if they have made the final. I would like to thank FBD for their continued support for this award. I am thrilled to say a 'Marty Party' will be coming back to the Young Farmer of the Year awards once again," she added.
IFA president Francie Gorman said the competition was a "wonderful example" of Macra na Feirme, IFA and FBD working together to recognise the "exceptional young talent in farming".
“For 25 years, the competition has given hundreds of promising young farmers the opportunity to showcase their vision and skills. Each year, the standard set by the contestants is very high and reflects the promise that exists in the sector.
"I’m sure 2024 will be no different. I hope the experience gained by those taking part will persuade them to take up leadership positions in the future. I want to wish everybody involved with the event the very best," he added.
