Slaney Foods have been working with the Irish Hereford Breed Society to send 4 finalists to travel to New Zealand in March 2020 to represent Ireland at the World Hereford Conference Young Breeders Competition. The standard of competitors was very strong and it was no easy task to choose just 4 winners.As part of the process, the 10 finalists had to:
- Attend an IHBS Show/Judging Workshop in July (The first workshop was held on the farm of Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald of Grianan Herefords in Co. Westmeath and the second workshop was held at Bandon Mart where Gurteragh Herefords provided the cattle & Peter O’Connell demonstrated cattle show skills)
- Participate in a Stock Showing/Judging Competition
- Create a short 3-5 minute presentation on the Hereford Breed
- Attend the National Ploughing Championships where they were interviewed.
The 10 finalists were:
- Clodagh Lynch, Co. Cork
- Sinead Conry, Co. Roscommon
- Mark Stewart, Co. Monaghan
- Ross Bateman, Co. Cork
- James Thompson, Co. Carlow
- Catherine Smyth, Co. Meath
- Eoin Lynch, Co. Cork
- Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, Co. Limerick
- Michael Barret, Co. Cork
- Katie Bradie, Co. Cavan
L to R: Katie Brady, Mark Stewart, Sinead Conry, Michael Barrett, Clodagh Lynch, , Eoin Lynch, Louise Callan (IHBS Breed Development Officer),Henry Dudley (IHBS President), Marika Mahon (Slaney Foods), James Thompson, Ross Bateman, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan,Catherine Smyth, Thomas Duffy (Macra na Feirme President), Willie Branagan (IHBS Chairman).
Following interviews by Thomas Duffy, president of Macra na Feirme, the Irish Hereford Breed Society announced the Travel Bursary winners who will represent Ireland at the World Hereford Conference Young Breeders Competition in New Zealand in March 2020. These are:- Eoin Lynch,Co. Cork
- Michael Barrett, Co. Cork
- Sinead Conry, Co. Roscommon
- Katie Brady,Co. Cavan
