Teachers across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to begin identifying potential Year 11 teams now ahead of September’s launch of the 2026–2027 ABP Angus Youth Challenge. The summer period is also an ideal time to encourage students to begin thinking about ideas for their entry video and possible project themes linked to sustainability, food production and agriculture.

Delivered by ABP and Certified Irish Angus, the award-winning initiative gives students a practical opportunity to learn about farming, food production, sustainability and the wide range of career pathways available within the agrifood sector - Northern Ireland’s largest private sector employer.

Now in its seventh year, the programme is helping bridge the gap between school and industry by giving students an immersive, real-world experience of how the supply chain operates from farm to fork.

“An innovative way of engaging young people in the community and educating them on the important role of sustainable agriculture.” Agriculture Minister, Andrew Muir

How the Challenge Works

The programme is open to Year 11 students across Northern Ireland, with students applying as school teams. To date, 237 schools have entered the competition, with 819 students taking part.

Each year, shortlisted teams present their project ideas at a showcase event held each October at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park. Following an independent judging process involving experts from both the agriculture and education sectors, four finalist teams are selected to take part in a year-long programme.

Finalist teams complete a research project linked to important industry themes while also receiving five Aberdeen Angus calves to rear. Previous projects have explored biodiversity, carbon reduction, succession planning, animal welfare and the health and wellbeing of farming families. Importantly, projects are aligned with students’ GCSE subjects, helping connect classroom learning with practical industry experience.

Bringing Learning Beyond the Classroom

The programme gives teachers and students access to industry contacts, farm visits, events and practical examples that can strengthen classroom teaching. For subjects from Agriculture, Science, Business Studies, Home Economics LLW, as well as English Language and Maths the challenge provides students with meaningful practical application of their studies.

Students gain experience in animal management, nutrition, sustainability and business decision-making, while monitoring the performance of their animals throughout the programme. They are encouraged to approach the project as a business, considering factors such as feed costs, animal prices and how on-farm decisions impact the wider supply chain. At the end of the programme, students are able to sell their animals to ABP and share the proceeds from the sale.

Importantly, students do not need to come from a farming background to participate. Calves can be reared on a family farm, a teacher’s farm or through a host farm organised by ABP and Certified Irish Angus, ensuring opportunities are accessible to both rural and urban schools.

“Our pupils are from mostly city backgrounds, which has meant few links to rural life. This competition has shattered that barrier. We are having new conversations about agriculture.” - Teacher from a Belfast city school

Industry Support and Mentoring

A key strength of the programme is the support provided to both students and teachers throughout the year. Each finalist team is paired with a specialist mentor from CAFRE who provides expert guidance linked to the team’s assigned project area.

Finalist groups also receive professional communication and interview training, including media training with Cool FM and Downtown Radio, alongside interview preparation delivered by Business in the Community’s LifeSkills trainers. These experiences help students develop confidence, communication and employability skills that support future study and career development.

Students are regularly invited to industry and stakeholder events, creating valuable links between schools and employers. This year’s finalists attended the Ulster Farmers Union Family Farm NI event at Stormont hosted by Robbie Butler MLA, while groups have also participated in Open Farm Weekend, NI Beef Week and the Balmoral Show.

Study Visits and Career Pathways

A major highlight of the programme is the annual study trip for finalist teams and teachers. This year’s trip includes visits to ABP; CAFRE Greenmount; CAFRE Loughry and farms in County Fermanagh and County Monaghan before travelling to England. Students will also visit Harper Adams University and ABP’s Demonstration Farm to explore university-level study, research and innovation in sustainable beef production.

The long-term impact of the challenge can also be seen in the career pathways students choose afterwards. By 2023, 45% of finalists were studying agriculture or food-related courses at CAFRE Greenmount or Loughry Campus, while 70% were pursuing agriculture, agrifood or veterinary-related qualifications and/or actively involved in farming.

The programme has also helped improve the visibility of young women within agriculture. Female participation among finalists now stands at 46%, with 59 of the 129 finalists to date being female.

School and Community Impact

Finalist teams are encouraged to share their learning within their wider communities through school presentations, social media campaigns, local press coverage, charity fundraising and primary school engagement activities.

For example, Newtownhamilton High School’s team raised £7,000 for Air Ambulance and received a Civic Award from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The finalists from Aughnacloy College created a storybook about sustainable farming, illustrated with support from 12 local primary schools, which was later shared internationally, including at the European Parliament.

The programme has also demonstrated how inclusive agricultural education can be. In 2021–2022, Castle Tower School became the first special school to reach the final, with pupils gaining practical farming experience and Lantra-accredited training through weekly farm sessions.

Preparing for September Applications

Teachers are encouraged to begin planning ahead now by identifying a potential Year 11 team before the summer break and encouraging students to think about their entry video over the summer holidays. Early preparation will help students develop stronger project ideas and give schools the best opportunity to make the most of the opportunity to compete for a place in the 2027 final.

What teachers should do now:

Identify a potential Year 11 team
Begin discussing possible project themes and ideas
Encourage students to start thinking about their entry video over the summer
Register interest ahead of September applications

To discuss an entry, contact Orlaith McLaughlin, Education Manager Certified Irish Angus at: schools@certifiedirishangus.ie