Four new teams through to ABP Angus Youth Challenge Finalist Programme

Four new teams have been presented with a mini-herd of Angus cross calves to rear as part of their reward for reaching the final stage of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge, an agri-skills development experience for teenagers. The winning schools were announced by the well-known farming programme presenter and journalist, Nicola Weir at the first live agri-event at Balmoral Park since November 2020.

They are: Cookstown High School, Dalriada School Ballymoney; Friends’ School Lisburn and St Kevin’s College Lisnaskea.

Each team was presented with their finalist trophies and calves at Balmoral Park showgrounds by Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, George Mullan and Charles Smith, General Manager of the Northern Irish Angus Producers Group. Commenting on the occasion, George Mullan said,

“Young people have missed out on so much as a result of the pandemic. ABP is committed to offering opportunities for personal and educational development through the ABP Angus Youth Challenge. We have been delighted by the positive impact the competition is having on participants’ work-life and interpersonal skills. This secondary level initiative complements the close links we have with CAFRE, Queen’s University and Harper Adams.” 

Special Guest Martin McKendry, CAFRE College Director spoke at the event and said,

“CAFRE is delighted to support the ABP Angus Youth Challenge in particular through the involvement of our local Advisers working collaboratively with the participating schools. The project provides an excellent platform for young people to get a real insight into the Northern Ireland agri-food supply chain and the potential careers available. It is also extremely pleasing to see many of the recent participants within the project progressing from school onto courses within CAFRE. Finally I wish the new group of students every success on the project.” 

The finalists will now embark on a farm-to-fork skills development programme with ABP. They will rear their calves through to beef and sell them to ABP, sharing in the net reward after sale. They have also been assigned special projects to work on over the next 18 months. These will challenge them to explore innovative and forward-thinking ways to support the sustainable development of beef production in Northern Ireland. Mentoring them throughout the programme will be College of Agriculture Food Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) advisors. 

The teams’ performance across all aspects of the final stage will be continually assessed. At the end of their programme, one overall winning team will receive £1,000 cash prize for their school. The ABP Angus Youth Challenge will open again for entries in September 2021. Register interest now at: www.abpangusyouthchallenge.com Find us on Facebook & Instagram #ABPAngusYouth

2019 Finalists fly off for study tour with ABP

14 local secondary school pupils and their teachers have been taken on a study tour by the meat processor ABP to find out more about its business in the UK and the beef supply chain. They are all 2019 finalists in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge and are from Aughnacloy College; Fivemiletown College; Wallace High School Lisburn and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

 The tour commenced with an induction on career pathways into agri-food and a cookery demonstration on Angus beef at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus. They then flew over England to visit ABP UK’s site at Ellesmere which is one of Europe’s most advanced beef processing sites. ABP Ellesmere occupies a site the size of 15 football pitches and employs over 700 people. The pupils learned about ABP’s sustainable approach to beef processing including its renewables division Olleco which converts waste into renewable fuel and is the first circular economy company to be granted a Royal Warrant. There was also a visit to one of ABP’s exemplary Angus Blade Farms and a retail customer.

As part of the competition, the pupils have to work on research assignments that support the meat production sector. They also have to rear five Aberdeen Angus cross calves to beef, given to them by ABP and then sell them to the meat processor at the end of the process. The pupils were accompanied on the tour by local employees of ABP and the Northern Irish Angus Producer Group.

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is currently open for entries from new participants who are aged 14-16 years old. Schools clubs, societies or groups of friends can enter a team of 2 to 5 individuals. You don’t have to live on a farm to take part. Entry is by way of a short video submission. The closing date is 29th November 2019.