Agri-food business ABP is taking five teams forward to the final stage of its skills development programme for teenagers, the Angus Youth Challenge.
The five successful teams are:
- Ballymena Academy (pictured top);
- Castle Tower School;
- Cross and Passion College Ballycastle;
- Magherafelt High School; and
- Omagh Academy.
Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle
Omagh Academy
Castle Tower
Magherafelt High
As part of the finalist programme, each team has been presented with a ‘mini-herd’ of five Angus cross calves.
Over the next 18 months, they will have to rear these calves through to finishing and then sell them to ABP. Proceeds from their sale will be rewarded back to each team.
All finalists will also benefit from a learning and development programme. This will entail working on forward-looking research assignments that challenge them to explore innovative techniques and proposals for the future benefit of sustainable beef production in Northern Ireland.
To help overcome some of the difficulties presented by Covid-19 restrictions, ABP has adapted the first stage of the finalist programme to online learning.
This starts with an induction to the company and its Angus Blade farming protocols. The finalists will also be given interview and presentation skills training for the world of work as well as insights into the strategic use of digital media to help promote the goals of their projects.
Congratulating the finalists, on behalf of ABP and the Northern Irish Angus Producer Group, managing director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan said: “We are delighted to welcome five new teams on to the ABP Angus Youth Challenge finalist programme.
This has been a particularly difficult year for the education and wellbeing of young people. We hope our new finalists benefit from taking part as much as those who have come before them.
The teams’ performance across all aspects of the final stage will be continually assessed to determine an overall winning group who will be the recipient of the £1,000 cash prize for their school.
There will also be awards for Runner-up and Outstanding Individual Achievement. The competition is currently open for new entries from schools, clubs and societies to take part.
