Glanbia Ireland’s Paddy Byrne Wins Big

The coveted Young Farmer of the Year award competition took place in Castleknock Hotel recently. Run by Macra na Feirme, the competition is in its 20th year and is sponsored by FBD Insurance.

Amongst the entries was Glanbia Agribusiness Ballytore staff member, Paddy Byrne, who was nominated for the “Emerging Young Farmer” category.

Home Farm

Paddy is a 22 year old Carlow native and is a beef, sheep and tillage farmer who works alongside his father.

The farming duo are a master of many trades, with a number successful enterprises on the farm including;

• Suckler to store
• Dairy calf to beef
• Lamb to slaughter
• Growing seed and feed barley for winter feed on the farm

Glanbia Ireland’s Own

Having graduating from UCD with a degree in Agricultural Science, specialising in Animal and crop production, Paddy began working in Glanbia Agribusiness and is based in the Ballytore branch.

No stranger to Glanbia, Paddy worked on the Gluten-Free oats project as part of his professional work experience in the Summer of 2016.

Once graduated, Paddy returned to the farm, where he immersed himself in dairy and tillage enterprises allowing him to broaden his knowledge of the agricultural sector.

Opportunity

“Over the past year this job opportunity has allowed me to develop and enhance both my social and communications skills which I feel were greatly beneficial to me whenever it came to this particular competition.

I was selected to represent Carlow in the regional round of the competition earlier this summer. After an interview process, I was named as one of the finalists”

The competition is based on how their business is run and ability to plan for the future. The finals took place in Castleknock hotel where a business management session was held with Nollaig Heffernan of Heffernan Consultancy. Following the evening meal, the winners of the competition were announced, with Paddy Byrne sweeping the top spot as “Emerging Young Farmer 2018”.

First Published 28 September 2018