ABP Angus Youth Challenge

Finalists in the 2025/26 ABP Angus Youth Challenge have gained hands-on experience in agriculture, building confidence and developing skills beyond the classroom.

ABP Angus Youth Challenge helps shape farming’s next generation

This year’s ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists from St Patrick’s High School, Keady; Blessed Trinity College, Belfast; Ballymena Academy and St Patrick’s College, Dungannon. The overall winning team will be announced on 22nd October at an awards ceremony in the Eikon Centre, Balmoral Park.

Final call to enter award winning ABP Angus Youth Challenge

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists on their visit to ABP Dungannon with Clement Lynch and Kellie McEvoy of the UFU; Lisa Burrows of ABP and Orlaith McLaughin of Certified Irish Angus.

ABP Angus youth finalists gain farm-to-fork insight

Farming Life news

Health checks

Pictured on the ABP stand at the Balmoral Show are Brook Devlin; Callum O’Neill and Deglan McFarlane who are representing Blessed Trinity College Belfast in the 2026 final of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge.

St Patrick’s College, Dungannon pupils recognised at Balmoral Show

George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, which is Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Balmoral Show. ABP’s stand will be situated at Central Park B5 where livestock farmers can find out more about opportunities within ABP’s dairy-to-beef schemes. Families and schools will also be able to register interest in the next intake for the ABP Angus Youth Challenge which opens again for entries this September to teenagers aged 14-15.

Visitors will find ABP at B5 on Park Central of Balmoral Park

Markethill High School Photo – ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists representing a cheque to Gyles Dawson, Rural Support, for £1,150

ABP Angus Youth Challenge participants raise vital funds for charity

Blessed Trinity College

Four finalist schools announced for 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge

Chatting at the recent APB Angus Youth Challenge awards, l to r: Paul McHenry, CAFRE and George Mullan, managing director of ABP in Northern Ireland.

ABP Angus Youth Challenge is a truly unique schools’ competition

The team pictured with Noah who won the calf.

Angus Youth team raises over £6,500 for Air Ambulance NI and Rural Support

As part of the ABP Angus Youth finalist programme, pupils embark on an international study tour with ABP and Certified Irish Angus. Pictured are the outgoing finalists in Brussels earlier this summer

Year 11s invited to compete for their own herd in unique agri-skills challenge

This year's finalists in the Aberdeen Angus Youth Challenge enjoy a visit to Brussels

ABP Angus Youth Challenge goes from strength to strength

Michaela McGuinness and Casey Jane Creegan with Downtown Country's Victoria Quinn at the 2025 Balmoral Show. The girls are pupils of St. Joseph's Crossmaglen and are finalists in the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge.

Challenge offers 14–15-year-olds a hands-on "farm-to-fork" experience

Michaela McGuinness and Casey Jane Creegan with Downtown Country's Victoria Quinn at the 2025 Balmoral Show. The girls are pupils of St. Joseph's Crossmaglen and are finalists in the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge.

Challenge offers 14–15-year-olds a hands-on "farm-to-fork" experience

The Lecale team pictured with one of the speakers

In pictures: Team from Lecale Trinity focus on animal welfare

Northern Irish Angus Youth Challenge. (Pic: Fennell Photography 2024)

NI teenagers invited to enter prestigious agri-skills competition
ABP has announced that its skills development programme for teenagers is now open for new entries.
By The Newsroom

The 2024 ABP Angus Youth Challenge Finalists from Dromore High School; Aughnacloy College; St. Colmcille’s College Crossgar and the Royal School Armagh.

ABP Angus Youth Challenge is helping students to discover their true potential

The 2024 ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists from Dromore High School; Aughnacloy College; St Colmcille's College Crossgar and the Royal School Armagh. The overall winners will be announced on 25th October at the Logan Hall, Balmoral Park. Meanwhile teachers and pupils entering Yr.11 this September can register now for the next intake at the ABP Angus Youth Challenge website. Fennell Photography 2024

ABP Angus Youth Challenge opens for entries on 2nd September

ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists Alexander Smith and Jack Steenson of Aughnacloy College with Victoria Quinn of Downtown Country. The boys were interviewed about their successful cookery demonstration activities and videos during NI Beef Week that helped raise awareness of NIFQA beef within their school community.

These Aughnacloy pupils impressed the judges - here's why

George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP Northern Ireland congratulates Mr John Henning OBE on his election as President of the RUAS. (Pic: ABP)

ABP Angus Youth is supporting social sustainability of NI farming community

Jack Steenson and Alexander Smith from Aughnacloy College. Pic: McAuley Multimedia

Four schools into ABP final

St Killian’s College Carnlough ABP Angus Youth Challenge Overall Winners, from left, Alex McAlister, Emma Mitchell and Peter Agnew with Charles Smith Certified Irish Angus and George Mullan Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland. Pic: McAuley Multimedia

Angus Youth Challenge winners look towards future career opportunities in agri-f...

Frank Hanna and Edward McKay along with Hannah Kirkpatrick Rural Support accepting the cheque. (Pic: Rural Support)

Down High School duo raise fantastic funds for Life Beyond

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ABP Angus Youth Challenge winners revealed

Michelle McIlveen MLA, Charles Smith Certified Irish Angus, Sheena Manson, classroom assistant with the team from Castle Tower School, their teacher Ciaran McCaughan and George Mullan, managing director of ABP in Northern Ireland. Picture: ABP

Watch: Schools and clubs invited to enter ABP’s agri-skills competition

2022 ABP Angus Youth Challenge Winners, Newtownhamilton High School and Cookstown High School with George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland and Charles Smith General Manager, Certified Irish Angus Producer Group. (Pic: MCAULEY_MULTIMEDIA)

Time for teens to enter agri-skills competition

Lisa Burrows, ABP Northern Ireland with students Edward McKay and Frank Hanna of Down High School, Downpatrick and Duane Kille, operations manager, Kettyle Irish Foods pictured at the Lismullin Cookery School, Navan, Co Meath. Picture: ABP

NI schools set off on ‘Taste of Europe’ tour
The food company ABP has hosted a group of Northern Irish pupils and their teachers on a European farm to fork study tour in conjunction with Certified Irish Angus Producer Group to broaden their understanding of its Europe-wide business operations.
Darryl Armitage

Frank Hanna and Edward McKay are pictured here receiving their prizes at ABP’s stand at Balmoral Show with from left Linda Surphlis, LMC; William Delaney of Certified Irish Angus and Stuart Cromie of ABP.

Down High pupils win Best Ever Beef Burrito Challenge

Cookstown High School’s winning team William Hamilton and John Mark McCrea (absent from the picture Ben Smyton) with from left Mr Agnew, teacher; Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland George Mullan; John Fegan, the team’s CAFRE Mentor and the General Manager of Certified Irish Angus, Charles Smith

Cookstown teens top the class

From left: Naomi Patterson, who was the team’s CAFRE mentor; their teacher Carol Alexander, with winning Newtownhamilton High School pupils Aimee McCombe, Sophie McKnight and Ellen Bailie; also pictured Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland George Mullan General Manager of Certified Irish Angus, Charles Smith.

ABP Angus Youth Challenge puts Newtownhamilton High School on the map

Shortlisted entrants competing at last year’s exhibition during Halloween at Balmoral Park. This year’s event will take place on 28th October and will be judged by an independent panel, for a place in the final stage of the 2023 ABP Angus Youth Challenge.

There’s still time to enter award-winning ABP Angus Youth Challenge

28/10/21 McAuley Multimedia REPRO FREE..Education Minister Michelle McIlveen congratulates pupils from Omagh Academy, the overall winners of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge class of 2020, James Fleming, Tori Robson, Joshua Keys, Jill Liggett and Allister Crawford. Also included are Charles Smith from the Angus Producer group and George Mullan MD ABP NI.Pic Steven McAuley/McAuley Multimedia

ABP’s agri-skills competition is open for entries from schools

The 2022 ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists departing for their 3-day international farm to fork study tour from ABP Newry with Liam McCarthy (far left) and Stuart Cromie (far right) of ABP.

26 pupils off to Belgium for ABP’s Angus Youth Study Tour

Pictured Kate Thompson, NI Director Duke of Edinburgh/Joint Award with two of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists, Gordon Porter from Banbridge Academy and Lucy Donnelly from St Catherine's Grammar School Armagh. Gordon, Lucy and other participants in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge will be at the ABP stand at Balmoral Show through the next four days to offer information on how to enter the competition which opens again for entries this September to 14-15 year olds. Entry and participation now counts towards the skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh/Joint Award.

ABP Angus Youth teams up with Duke of Edinburgh’s award/joint award initiative

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge team from Castle Tower School
receiving their Highly Commended award for completing the ABP Angus
Youth Challenge. From left, classroom assistant Sheena Manson, Joshua
Boville, Zac Glover, Martin McKay, Scott Allen and teacher, Ciaran
McCaughan. (Missing from the photo, team member Daniel Currie).
Congratulating them at the awards ceremony which was held at Balmoral
Park recently are NI Education Minister Michelle McIlveen; Charles
Smith, Northern Irish Angus Producer Group and George Mullan, Managing
Director of ABP in Northern Ireland.

Castle Tower School breaks newground in teaching agriculture

The students took their calves to school

Castle Tower kids bring calves to school

Entries open for school teams

From left, Samantha Todd and Emma Turner of the Wallace High School, the ABP Angus Youth Challenge 2021 Overall Winning School

New ABP Angus Youth Challenge open to entries

CAFRE student Molly Bradley, Armagh accepts her ‘Overall Outstanding Achiever’ award at ABP’s Angus Youth Challenge’ Award Ceremony at Balmoral Park

Molly is top achiever in the ABP Challenge

Representing the teams are from left Stuart Cromie, ABP Molly Nelson, Friends' School Lisburn, William Hamilton, Cookstown High School, Lois McCurdy Dalriada School, Ballymoney, Mark Grew St Kevin's College Lisnaskea and Charles Smith of the Northern Irish Angus

13 teenagers take calves home to rear in ABP’s agri-skills contest

Emma and Samantha with the calves at the Wallace High Sports Day

ABP Angus Youth Challenge winners reflect on competition success

Pictured the team from Fivemiletown College, who were 2021 Runners-up in the competition against the three other finalist teams - Mark Hoey, Ester Robinson, Alan Kelly, Megan Roberts and Jonathan Cowan, with George Mullan, Managing Director ABP Northern Ireland Charles Smith, Angus Producer Group, and teacher Andrea McNeary

ABP Angus Youth Challenge award winners announced

John McKenna, with teacher Ms Brady, Conleth McCallion, Shea Birt and Cathan Molloy representing St Patrick’s College Maghera

Schools shine at ABP Angus Youth Challenge semi-finals

Pictured from left is Omagh Academy Teacher Adele Lennox with her ABP Angus Youth Challenge team representing the school, James Fleming, Jill Liggett, Tori Robson, Joshua Keys and Allister Crawford

Resilient in challenging times

Teacher Ciaran McCaughan and Liam McCarthy of ABP pictured with Castle Tower School pupils who are finalists in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge. The boys are rearing their five calves on Ciaran McCaughan’s farm near Ballycastle

CAFRE mentors for ABP youth

Representing Omagh Academy in the 2020-2021 ABP Angus Youth Challenge Final are Jill Liggett, Joshua Keys, Alister Crawford, Tori Robson and James Fleming. They are pictured with William Delany, Northern Irish Angus Producer Group and Liam McCarthy of ABP

ABP Angus Youth 2020 finalists are announced

Representing Omagh Academy in the 2020-2021 ABP Angus Youth Challenge Final are Jill Liggett, Joshua Keys, Alister Crawford, Tori Robson and James Fleming. They are pictured with William Delany, Northern Irish Angus Producer Group and Liam McCarthy of ABP

ABP Angus Youth 2020 finalists are announced

Last call to take part in ABP competition

Angus Beef Competition.
Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography Copyright 2019

ABP Angus Youth Challenge is back

Samantha Todd, left and Emma Turner at Belfast International Airport before boarding their flight to Birmingham on a fascinating ABP Angus Youth Challenge study tour

Emma and Samantha’s excellent 18 months of Angus adventures

Lorcan Convery from Belfast Royal Academy, who won the ABP Angus Youth Challenge Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for his participation in the 2018-2020 skills development programme for teenagers interested in working in agri-food. The programme is delivered by the meat processor ABP in association with the Northern Irish Angus Produce Group and is intending to bridge the gap between education and employment in the sector

Schoolboy wins outstanding individual achievement award in ABP competition

The St Louis Grammar winners: Thomas Kane lives on beef farms and Conall McCaffertys family are sheep farmers. Both are currently in Year 13. Whilst Peter Graham whose parents dont farm has helped at his uncles farm since childhood. He has since entered CAFRE Greenmount College to study Agriculture Science

WATCH: ABP Angus Youth Challenge winners announced on YouTube

Pictured ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalists and their teachers at ABP UKs site at Ellesmere which is one of the most efficient and sustainable beef processing sites in Europe following a £30 million investment in 2015. It covers an area equivalent to 15 football pitches and employs 727 people.

ABP hosts farm to fork study tour for finalists

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The Mid Ulster teens championing women in agriculture

from left ABP Angus Blade Co-ordinator, Arthur OCallaghan; Thomas OKane; Louise Gildea; Conall McCafferty; Peter Graham and Charles Smith, General Manager Northern Irish Angus Producer Group.

Ballymena school promotes beef production the sustainable way

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