Pupils aim to rise to the ABP Angus Youth Challenge

Fifty one young people representing 13 schools across the province competed yesterday for a place in the final stage of the 2019 ABP Youth Challenge, an agri-skills development competition for teenagers wanting to work in agri-food.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Mar 2019, 06:10 BST
Updated 12th Mar 2019, 07:35 BST
ABP Angus Youth Challenge Semi final judge and President of the NI Veterinary Association Aurelie Moralis joins Arthur Callaghan ABP NI Blade Farming Co-ordinator with some of the 51 semi finalists, Jayne Cruickshank from Ballymena Academy and Robert Dowey from Ballycastle High School.ABP Angus Youth Challenge Semi final judge and President of the NI Veterinary Association Aurelie Moralis joins Arthur Callaghan ABP NI Blade Farming Co-ordinator with some of the 51 semi finalists, Jayne Cruickshank from Ballymena Academy and Robert Dowey from Ballycastle High School.
ABP Angus Youth Challenge Semi final judge and President of the NI Veterinary Association Aurelie Moralis joins Arthur Callaghan ABP NI Blade Farming Co-ordinator with some of the 51 semi finalists, Jayne Cruickshank from Ballymena Academy and Robert Dowey from Ballycastle High School.

The semi-finalists had to impress an independent panel of twelve judges with their knowledge of premium Northern Irish Angus beef production and particular aspects of Northern Ireland farming that interested them.

The pupils, who ranged from 14-16 years of age, were representing Aughnacloy College, Co. Tyrone; Ballycastle High School, Co. Antrim; Ballymena Academy, Co. Antrim; St. Ciaran’s College, Co. Tyrone; Coleraine Grammar School, Co. Londonderry; St. Colm’s High School, Co. Londonderry; Fivemiletown College, Co. Tyrone; Glastry College, Co. Down; St. Patrick’s College, Co. Londonderry; Slemish College, Co. Antrim; Rainey Endowed School, Co. Londonderry; Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Co. Antrim; and Wallace High School, Co. Antrim.

Congratulating the participants on reaching the semi-final, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan, said: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is connecting with the future of our industry. These young people are the farmers, the technologists, the production people of tomorrow that our industry needs in order for the local agri-food sector to thrive.”

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The teams going through to the final will be announced in April. Each team will then be presented with five Aberdeen Angus x calves at a high-profile public event during the Balmoral Show in May. They will go on to rear their calves through to finishing over an 18-month skills development programme covering insights into ABP’s Blade farming beef production model from farm to fork. They will benefit financially from the profit at sale of their calves to ABP. One overall winning team will also receive a £1,000 cash prize for their school.

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is organised in partnership with the Northern Irish Angus Producer Group. Judging the semi-finalists were representatives from leading organisations across the farming, agri-food and education sectors.