Finalists Get a Taste of Media Life at Cool FM & Downtown Radio


Our four school teams competing in the 2015 ABP Angus Youth Challenge had a seriously cool experience recentlyspending the day at Cool FM / Downtown Radio for an exclusive media training workshop!

The finalists in the 2025 competition are well on their journey, rearing their own mini herd of Angus cross calves and exploring sustainable beef farming in Northern Ireland. But now, they’ve learned how to share their story with the world.

With help from Cool FM’s Paulo Ross, Downtown Country’s Victoria Quinn, and Bauer Media’s Head of Creative Keith Law, students discovered how to turn their agri-projects into scroll-stopping content. They explored digital storytelling, how to work the social media algorithms, and even recorded their own audio scripts with studio mics.

Wayne Denner, a tech expert, was also on hand to guide the teams on staying safe online when creating smart, attention-grabbing social media content. These skills should help them smash it on and off the farm.

George Mullan, MD of ABP Northern Ireland, said it best:

“As the next generation steps up to shape the future of farming and agrifood, equipping them with the tools to communicate is essential.”

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge, run in partnership with Certified Irish Angus, isn’t just about farming—it’s about building confidence, creativity, and communication skills that go way beyond the field.

Want to follow the teams’ journey? Keep an eye on their socials over the next few months—you might just see some future media stars in the making.

Big year ahead for the schools in ABP Angus Youth Challenge final

The four schools now competing in the final of the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge are Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Lecale Trinity Grammar School, Downpatrick, Markethill High School, and St. Joseph’s High School Crossmaglen.

As finalists, each team are rearing their own mini-herd of Angus-cross calves provided by ABP in partnership with the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group. Over the next ten months, these young farmers will gain hands-on experience in sustainable beef farming, supported by expert guidance from a CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise) mentor.

 The teenagers will also be delving into research themes critical to modern beef farming. Each team will champion a sustainability-focused topic, researching and promoting its importance within their schools, communities, and the wider agri-food industry.

Throughout the coming months their performance will be evaluated. The team delivering the most successful outcomes overall stand to win an additional £1,000 for their school or affiliated club.

Beyond practical farming experience, the finalists will also benefit from training and travel opportunities, gaining insights into ABP’s global operations and the broader agribusiness landscape. They will even receive a financial reward when their calves are sold to ABP, ensuring they experience every stage of the beef supply chain from farm to fork.

 George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP Northern Ireland, congratulated the finalists:

“The ABP Angus Youth Challenge inspires young people to innovate, learn, and develop practical skills that are vital to the future of beef farming. This competition also showcases the diverse career paths and opportunities available in the agrifood sector. We look forward to seeing how these talented teams bring their projects to life and develop ideas to tackle the challenges facing our industry.”

 You can stay up to date on their journey by following #ABPAngusYouth on Instagram and Facebook.


Enniskillen Royal Grammar School

Topic: One Health - the link between animal, human and plant health

Lecale Trinity Grammar School

Topic: Raising Awareness of Animal Welfare Standards

Markethill High School

Topic: Food Provenance - Do you know what you eat?

St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen

Topic: Sustainable Beef Consumer and the Young Consumer