Over 30 entries have already been received for a ‘Grass Women’ record-busting attempt at bringing in silage.
The competition will take place at this year’s silage event in the grounds of Mount Melleray Abbey, Waterford, on Saturday, August 19.
Organiser, John O’Brien, has a 130ac dry stock farm at Lyre East, Cappoquin. He has been running silage events at the well-known abbey for years to raise funds for charity. It has featured a mix of modern and vintage machinery in the past.
This year’s event sought to bring something new to the gathering by putting the spotlight on female participants.
“Last year’s proceeds went to help cancer patients. We did a 1916 re-enactment and we had a Marshall steam engine here. This year the beneficiary is The Alzheimer Society of Ireland,” O’Brien said.
“A lot of shows do the same ding-dong every year, with the same faces. Everyone deserves a break.
Many women are very active in the farming community, but their work is unrecognised. We felt it should be recognised, and this year’s female challenge has taken off dramatically. We have even had contact from a woman in Scotland who is interested in taking part.
“We had been planning on putting the ‘Grass Women’ challenge in a corner, but now it looks like it will be taking over the whole place.”
The ‘Grass Women’ will draw silage from a precision chop harvester. “We will be making things as simple as possible. Those taking part will start up; fill a load to about half full; draw it to the pit; and empty the load,” O’Brien added.
“There will be plenty of stewards around, but there can’t be anyone on the tractor with the woman who is taking part. They must bring their own equipment – whatever they are comfortable with – and solely operate the machinery.”
A Guinness Book of Records application has been submitted for the event, with a team of female mechanics – The Socket Rockets – also set to be in attendance. The word is they can rebuild a Ferguson 20 in well under 12 minutes.
For further information on taking part in the event, contact John on: 087-2542596.
