Tipperary school celebrates student’s success at National Ploughing Championships
From the Newport College notes
Three fifth-year students Kyle, Cillian, and Sam have brought pride and recognition to our school, Newport College, after excelling in the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition.
Last week, they were presented with five Irish Angus calves at the National Ploughing Championships, having been selected as one of five finalist teams from an initial pool of over 170 entrants.
The competition, run by Certified Irish Angus in association with ABP and Kepak was an intense journey involving a video entry, an interview round, and a final presentation at Croke Park in the Spring.
The student’s project focused on Sustainable Farming, a topic that earned them a coveted spot among the top five finalists out of 43 teams who made it to the Croke Park stage.
Representing their school at the National Ploughing Championships, Kyle, Cillian, and Sam, were interviewed by prominent farming entities including the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group, The Farmers Journal, and RTÉ’s Suzanne Campbell.
Over the next year, the students will rear the calves, documenting their progress while promoting sustainable farm technology.
Accompanied by their Agricultural Science teacher, Ms Jennifer Rogers, the students have been on an incredible journey of learning and innovation.
Their project will focus on researching how farmers can use technology, the benefits of integrating technology into farming, and the key information needed to run an efficient, environmentally friendly farm.
They will also emphasise the importance of careful farm planning.
At the conclusion of the project, they will receive a financial benefit from selling the animals to processors. Additionally, the winning students will be awarded a €2,000 grant to support their further education.
As part of the competition, the students will travel to Brussels to visit the European Parliament, where they will present their innovative project to Irish political and farming representatives, further solidifying their status as young leaders in agricultural innovation.
The school community is incredibly proud of Kyle, Cillian, and Sam’s outstanding achievement, which not only showcases their hard work and dedication but also highlights the school’s commitment to fostering excellence in agricultural education.