St Louis pupils showcase at ABP Angus Youth Challege Semi-Finals
Pupils Conall McCafferty, Peter Graham and Thomas O’Kane travelled to the semi final at CAFRE Loughry to present their ideas for a place in the final and the chance to win Aberdeen Angus calves to rear through to finishing.
Nutritional selling points of beef, the importance of grass-based beef production and the promotion of a Northern Irish Angus beef brand were just some of the ways the competitors set about impressing the independent panel of judges at the event in Cookstown.
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Hide AdThe St Louis pupils’ project included a clever re-enactment of the famous American Superbowl advert ‘God made a farmer’ using pictures that their fellow pupils had of their family farms, matching them up with the words of the poem, involving the whole school in the ABP initiative.
Congratulating the teams on their hard work to date, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan said: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is about investing for the future of farming and food production in Northern Ireland through skills development of our young people.
“If the talent on display in this room today is any indicator of future success, then we have a lot to be positive about.”
Three finalist teams will be announced after Easter and presented with five Aberdeen Angus cross calves at a high-profile public event during the 150th Balmoral Show in May.
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Hide AdThey will go on to rear their calves through to sale to ABP over an 18-month skills development programme covering insights into beef production from farm to fork.
In addition, they will benefit financially from the profit at sale of the calves to ABP.
One overall winning team will also win £1,000 cash prize for their school or club.