Explore our showcase of past winners…
Aughnacloy College
Overall Winners, Class of 2023
"Creating a Vibrant Farming Culture for Future Generations"
Highlights of their work:
The boys combined research on how farmers were enhancing their farms through sustainable enterprises with extensive community outreach to pass the information they had learned to future generations.
They did this by creating a ‘Pass it On’ rhyming children’s story book, illustrated with the help of contributions from 12 local primary schools.
As well passing their book on in assemblies and to libraries in many local schools they sent copies to public figures involved in agriculture at Stormont and Westminster.
The book was circulated in 11 different countries in the EU, including the European Parliament; as well as further afield destinations such as Egypt, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Mexico! Images of the book in far flung places were then shred on social media to extend the reach even further.
Book sales including at their local agricultural show raised £1,600 which the boys donated to the Air Ambulance NI.
The boys even sent a copy of their book to the King c/o Buckingham Palace and received a reply from the Head of the Royal Household on behalf of HRH. King Charles!
St. Killian’s College, Carnlough
Overall Winners, Class of 2022
A Health Approach to Agriculture
Highlights of their work:
The team demonstrated an impressive sense of responsibility to protect and enhance the outstanding beauty of the Glens, whilst ensuring the farming traditions of their ancestors are maintained and valued.
Their establishment of an ECO Club in school to share their ABP Angus Youth Challenge journey was inspirational.
Showing real vision, and with the help of their teachers and their CAFRE mentor this team demonstrated how improved soil health benefited the Glens while at the same time delivered quality feed for livestock with fewer inputs.
Finally bringing together all their findings and communicating them to a large section of the local public at the “Heart of the Glens Festival” showed real leadership and entrepreneurial skills making St Killian’s College admirable winners.
Cookstown & Newtownhamilton High Schools
Overall winners, class of 2021 (Summer & Winter teams)
Sustainable agriculture delivering for the community
Sustainable beef consumption and the young consumer
Highlights of their work:
Cookstown High School’s team wanted to bridge the knowledge-gap they believe exists between farmers who rear high-quality, grass-fed cattle and the consumer’s understanding of beef production.
Their project presented a positive manifesto for agriculture.
They promoted the importance of farming and food production in the U.K. and the beneficial role that agriculture plays in the community along with how to integrate concern for the environment into food production.
The trio from Newtownhamilton High School looked at the nutritional value of beef with an emphasis on its vitamin content.
They explored young people’s understanding of the vitamins that can acquired from consuming beef and implemented awareness-raising activities including a book of beef recipes.
They also organized a Farm to Fork Festival and Tractor Run in their local community, which along with in-school fund-raising, raised a substantial sum for ABP’s charity partner Air Ambulance NI as a result of a raffle supported by many local businesses.
Omagh Academy
Overall winners Class of 2020
Exploring the opportunities for a low carbon Angus beef brand for Northern Ireland
Highlights of their work:
Researched farm practices and the use of improved genetics to understand what can be done at farm level to address emissions
Demonstrated the long-term opportunities for farmers to produce top quality nutritious beef in a sustainable manner while also adapting biodiversity initiatives on their farms
Worked within their school community and developed a large social media following with strong and informative posts
Established school’s “Grassroots Agricultural Club” allowing them to debate current farming attitudes while at the same time informing and developing future opinions about farming within their community at large.
Wallace High School, Lisburn
Overall Winners, Class of 2019
The Role & Contribution of Women in Agriculture
Highlights of their work:
The team interviewed several prominent industry personalities, raising the profile of women through their successful Instagram blog.
They developed their theme ‘Women in Agriculture’ with determination and flair, showing everyone within their community that they were young ladies capable of any challenge.
To demonstrate the opportunities for ambitious young women, they researched and promoted many different roles. The quality of their research was outstanding.
St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
Overall Winners, Class of 2019
Family farming enhancing sustainability
Highlights of their work:
The team displayed a deep sense of belonging to their farming community. Their huge pride in family farming and its traditions was evident in their creation of a promotional video – an ‘Northern Ireland’ adaptation of the American Paul Harvey poem ‘On the 8th Day’.
A strong bond of friendship and work ethic was evident throughout their time as finalists.
A deep understanding of consumer concerns and how the Northern Ireland family farming model can address these, such as animal welfare, shone through in a meaningful and authentic way.
They were able to bring the school’s non-farming pupils and teachers on a journey of understanding. This included a fun fund-raiser for the ‘Send a Cow’ charity that featured the ‘most voted-for’ teacher helping to muck out with the boys on the farm.