BellTime Magazine Autumn 2017 BellTime 8-3 | Page 26

BellTIME Exciting calf-rearing competition for Transition Year students officially launched at National Ploughing Championships Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD launches 2018 Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition Certified Irish Angus Beef SCHOOLS COMPETITION Croke Park Stadium March 2018 Is your school interested in being part of Ireland’s most exciting agricultural project? To register your interest, email the details of your school to [email protected] Overall winners of the 2015 Certified Irish Angus Beef School Competition 26 20th September 2017: On the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan, Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD visited the Irish Angus Producer Group stand to officially launch the 2018 Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition in association with ABP and Kepak. The competition, which is now entering its fifth year, aims to encourage second level students to gain an understanding about the care and attention that is required to produce and market the highest quality beef for consumers. Each year, five school groups are chosen to receive five Irish Angus Cross calves. As part of their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science project the students are required to set milestones through the lifetime of the animals, rear them through to slaughter and visit processing and retail facilities to understand how the food chain works. Charles Smith, General Manager, Irish Angus Producer Group said, “We have been delighted with the success of this competition to date and have been hugely impressed with the quality of the projects and commitment of the students who have taken part over the last number of years. It is wonderful to witness how the groups grow and learn about the role of Irish farming and merits of the Certified Irish Angus brand over the 18 months of the competition. We look forward to receiving entries from all over the country over the coming months