Two Year 12 pupils from Aughnacloy College, Co. Tyrone, have taken the top prize in the 2024 ABP Angus Youth Challenge, impressing judges with their innovative project on sustainable farming.
Jack Steenson and Alexander Smith, both from local farming families, triumphed over competing teams with their project ‘Creating a Vibrant Farming Culture for Future Generations’.
Their work focused on practical steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture, a crucial topic for Northern Ireland’s farming and food community.
Dromore High School secured the runners-up spot with their project ‘Promoting Diversity within the Beef Supply Chain’, while teams from St. Colmcille’s High School and the Royal School Armagh were also in the final.
Sarah Gilchrist from St. Colmcille’s High School won the award for outstanding contribution by an individual.
ABP Angus Youth Challenge
The awards ceremony, held at Logan Hall in recent days was attended by 200 people including 28 new school teams contending for a place on the next finalist programme.
The winning team was presented with the ABP Angus Youth Challenge Cup and a cheque for £1,000 by ABP and Certified Irish Angus.
Martin McKendry, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) acting head of Food & Farming Group was special guest at the ceremony.
Throughout the past year, all finalists had been tasked with rearing Angus beef cattle, five per team, with the support of a College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) mentor simultaneously working on projects to tackle sustainability in Northern Ireland’s beef supply chain.
The teams have successfully finished their animals early in line with DAERA’s Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme aimed at reducing the environmental impact of beef farming.
Jack and Alexander’s winning project combined research on how farmers were enhancing their farms through sustainable enterprises with extensive community outreach to pass the information to future generations.
Their ‘Pass it on’ theme included a rhyming children’s story book, illustrated with the help of contributions from 12 local primary schools.
Launched at this year’s Armagh Show, book sales along with a ‘Guess the weight of their heifer’ competition raised £1,600 for Air Ambulance NI.
With the help of social media, the project’s reach extended far beyond Northern Ireland with their message shared in 11 different countries in the EU, including the European Parliament, as well as further afield destinations such as Egypt, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Mexico.
Congratulating all the award winners, manging director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan said: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge exemplifies how education and farming can work hand in hand to drive sustainable practices today and into the future.
“Jack and Alexander are passionate young farmers and an inspiration to the young people hoping to win a place on our next finalist programme. ABP and Certified Irish Angus are delighted with their achievement.”
Martin McKendry also emphasised the importance of the initiative: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is an excellent initiative which encourages young people right across Northern Ireland to learn all aspects of the agri-food supply chain including the fantastic career opportunities.
“When you add a competitive component to a real live learning environment then young people have the opportunity to thrive.
“I would also like to thank CAFRE advisory staff for their mentoring support within the programme and encourage all participants to actively pursue a career in agri-food.
“The wide suite of education programmes available at CAFRE cater for young people leaving school either at 16 or following A-Levels and there is a direct pathway into a rewarding career.”
