The 18th FBD Young Farmer of the Year has been named as Kevin Moran, a young dairy farmer from Claremorris. He has won the prestigious title following a challenging interview process and an on farm visit. Judging panel chairman, Michael Hoey, Managing Director of Country Crest, announced the winner at an awards ceremony in the Boyne Valley Hotel and Country Club yesterday. Kevin has won a travel bursary worth €3,000.
The competition is organised by Macra na Feirme in partnership with the IFA and sponsors, FBD. Macra National President, Seán Finan, said, “This is one of the most prestigious nights on the farming calendar where industry and farmers come together to recognise and award the brightest and best young farmers in the country, well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to the category winners and to Kevin Moran from Mayo the 18th FBD Young Farmer of the Year”.
IFA President Joe Healy said, “It’s not only an opportunity for the winners to go forward and represent themselves, their sector and the organisation, but I think what I’ve seen through the years as a judge is the number of people that came, did the interviews and then realised what they needed to improve on inside their farm gate. Let Macra and the IFA worry about lobbying and the other aspects of farming outside the gate, but there’s a lot that can be improved on inside the farm gate on a lot of farms and I think that’s what the young farmers taking part in this competition need to take away from it as well because we can all make improvements”.
