Awards for the top three graduates of the Farm Apprenticeship Board (FAB) training programme were presented recently by the Minister of the State for Agriculture and Food, Noel Davern, at the head office of the Bank of Ireland in Dublin.
Each candidate had to submit a written project outlining their ideas and showing how much business acumen they possessed. The judging of the Farm Start proposals was a long and rigorous process. Every detail had to be analysed to ensure that the finished project would be viable.
Competition was intense with many fresh ideas being put forward. Overall winner was 23-year-old Charlie McGahan from Newstone, Drumconrath, Navan, Co Meath, with Batt McHugh from Shanbally, Kildinan, Co Cork in second place andNiall Scanlon of Bohermore, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow in close third. Sean O'Meara, FAB chairman, said that it was very important that every assistance be given to young people who choose to go into farming. "It's essential," he said, "that our most highly trained and motivated young farmers are given greater opportunities to become involved in farming."
McGahan's winning project dealt with the rising awareness of food safety. He saw an opportunity by offering organic lamb.
"I felt there would be a big drive for it," he says. He researched his plan by talking to Andrew Kinsella at Teagasc, who advised him on the most productive and safe ways of raising lambs organically. He should have his organic production system in place by the end of the year, but he must first have his flock approved by the Organic Farmers and Growers. He will start with 80 sheep.
McGahan believes that farming's current low period will pass and he would encourage any young person to become involved. "It's hard work, but it's well worth it," he says enthusiastically. Although delighted to win the Bank of Ireland Farm Start Award, he says that he would have made it happen anyway - it just would have taken much longer.
