IFA President John Bryan has congratulated Paul Kehoe from Co. Wexford on winning the prestigious FBD Young Farmer of the Year Award.

 

John Bryan said Paul Kehoe from Gorey, Co. Wexford is a top class beef and livestock farmer and a prominent and active member of the IFA National Livestock Committee. He said “it is fantastic to see a young and successful livestock farmer winning this award”.

 

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony John Bryan said the calibre of candidates in the competition is a great reflection on the emerging young talent in farming. John Bryan called on the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith and Teagasc to address the serious situation of young farmers being turned away from Agricultural colleges because of a lack of capacity this year. 

 

The IFA President said “all young farmers wishing to study at Agricultural colleges must be facilitated as education is key to developing an efficient agriculture sector capable of meeting the challenges of the 2020 Agriculture Strategy.”

 

John Bryan also congratulated Mattie Moore from Co. Offaly, a tillage and beef farmer who was runner-up and John Joyce, a 32 year old beef and sheep farmer from Co. Tipperary who was second runner-up.

 

The IFA President said it is tremendous to see that all of the winners are actively involved in their local and county IFA structure. He said Mattie Moore is a member of the IFA National Pigs Committee and John Joyce is Chairman of Terryglass IFA in North Tipperary.