Top award for farmer Paul
WINNER OF 'YOUNG FARMER OF YEAR' COMPETITION
Paul Kehoe from Ballygarrett celebrates winning the 2010 FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition.
PAUL KEHOE from Glascarrig, Ballygarrett was last week named as the FBD Young Farmer of the Year.
The 34 year old won the prestigious competition after a series of interviews in Waterford last week. He was announced as the winner at a gala banquet in the Tower Hotel on Tuesday night.
Paul, who is a suckler to beef, sheep and tillage farmer, with his father Joseph on the family farm, was interviewed on his farming practices; his level of efficiency; the quality of his enterprise; and his knowledge of farm safety and the environment. Twenty one of the country's other top young farmers were also in the running in the final.
The announcement was made by Darina Allen, chair of the final adjudication panel.
'It's only barely sinking in still,' said a smiling Paul last week. ' The first interview went really well, and even though it was tough. When I got into the final six, I knew I was in with a chance.'
'I'm absolutely delighted,' he added. 'It's hard to believe it. We had a good night of celebrations afterwards.' His wife Louise was among the first to congratulate him, while family and friends in Ballygarrett were also quick to congratulate him when the news filtered back home.
Paul won a perpetual cup, a specially commissioned piece by artist Peter McGuire, and a travel bursary worth €3,000. He plans to visit Canada next year.
Six overall finalists were interviewed by a judging panel chaired by Darina Allen, celebrity chef and television personality; with Willie Fahey, CEO of IFAC; Derek Casey, Machinery Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal; Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc; Jim Buckley, Director of Forage Systems and former Presidents of Macra na Feirme, Joe Healy and Seamus Phelan.
Macra na Feirme National President, Michael Gowing, praised the enthusiasm of the farmers who had made it through to the national final: ' The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards promotes excellence among young, progressive farmers and recognises their commitment to both the agricultural industry and their local communities,' he said. ' The farmers entering this competition are a perfect example of the types of young people making a career out of agriculture. Farming is a challenging profession but it is important to highlight the fact that there are many highly educated and skilled young people choosing agriculture as a career and making a success of it.'
- FINTAN LAMBE
