Lecale Trinity quartet in Youth Challenge final

Lecale Trinity quartet in Youth Challenge final

27 November 2024

FOUR students from Lecale Trinity Grammar School in Downpatrick have been selected as finalists in the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge. 

Ben O’Connor, Lochlann Hegarty, Christopher Cunningham and Brent Magouran, all from Year 11, form one of the four teams to make it through the final after beating 24 other schools teams from across Northern Ireland.

They will now compete against teams from the Royal School Enniskillen, St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen, and Markethill High School in a year-long programme exploring sustainable beef production.

 Each team has been awarded their own mini-herd of Angus-cross calves to rear over the coming year by ABP in partnership with the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group which will be delivered to the boys host farm in time for Christmas.

This will enable them to gain hands-on experience in sustainable beef farming, supported by expert guidance from a CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise) mentor.

The challenge will also see the teenagers delving into themes critical to modern beef farming, including sustainability, innovation and supply chain efficiency. 

Each team will champion a sustainability-focused project, researching and promoting its importance within their schools, communities and the wider agri-food industry.

 Throughout the year, their performance will be evaluated, with the team delivering the most successful project overall earning an additional £1,000 for their school or affiliated club. 

Beyond practical farming experience, the finalists will benefit from training and travel opportunities, offering insights into ABP’s global operations and the broader agribusiness landscape. 

They will also receive the financial reward of selling their animals to ABP next year, ensuring they experience every stage of the beef supply chain from farm to fork.

 George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP Northern Ireland, congratulated the finalists.

He said: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge inspires young people to innovate, learn and develop practical skills that are vital to the future of beef farming. 

“This competition also showcases the diverse career paths and opportunities available in the agrifood sector.”

He added: “We look forward to seeing how these talented teams bring their projects to life and develop ideas to tackle the challenges facing our industry.”

You can learn more about the ABP Angus Youth Challenge at www.abpangusyouthchallenge.com.