The search has been officially launched for the FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2023.
Now in its 25th year, the competition aims to raise the profile of young farmers by awarding their “achievements and contribution to farming”.
The 2023 competition features a wide range of category awards including:
- Dairy;
- Drystock (beef and sheep);
- Other enterprises (including horticulture, pigs, poultry, tillage, equine);
- Land Mobility;
- Farm Management.
This year will also feature awards for the Best Emerging Young Farmer and the National Rural Network Biodiversity Farmer of the Year.
The winners of each of these categories will then go forward to compete to be the overall 2023 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.
The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards are run by Macra and are sponsored by FBD and are also supported by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the National Rural Network.
Macra national president, Elaine Houlihan, said she “would encourage young farmers from all sectors to come forward and enter this year’s competition”.
Houlihan said: “Young farmers are at the forefront of adapting new practices to ensure our future in farming is sustainable for years to come”.
Prizes
Up for grabs this year for the overall winner of the 2023 FBD Young Farmer of the Year is a prize of €5,000.
Each category winner and the Emerging Young Farmer will also take home €1,000.
FBD will also award €250 to any Macra members who reach the finals of this year’s competition.
Each winner will also receive vouchers from the FBD Hotel Group and FBD Insurance.
Achievements
John Cahalan, chief commercial officer at FBD Insurance said the FBD Young Farmer of the Year awards provide “an important opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our young farmers”.
While IFA president, Tim Cullinan, also believes it is important “to nurture and encourage young talent in the farming sector”.
Cullinan said: “Past participants all attest to a wonderful experience and I’m sure we will see a high-calibre of entrants again this year.”
Applications and nominations are now open for the 2023 FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards and the closing date for applications is Friday July 28, 2023.