The format has been updated for the start of the new school year to ensure ease of supervision by teachers and ease of participation alongside GCSE studies.
The competition offers the chance to win great prizes including a mini herd of Angus crossbreed calves worth around £ 3,500 and a three-day study trip with ABP. But it will end in a shorter time and the events will take place outside the school period.
“Given the disruption schools faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, we worked with educators to streamline the competition. It is more closely aligned with the learning outcomes of a range of GCSE subjects to support success. It continues to provide teens with a unique farm-to-fork beef production work experience and complements their education in a ‘learning by doing’ way, explained Charles Smith of the Northern Irish Angus Producer Group who coordinates the competition on behalf of ABP. “Our main events, such as the exhibition and training, will take place during the mid-term breaks. “
Teams that reach the final stage of the challenge will be assigned a mentor from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Business to support their work on research assignments.
“We hope that the free study tour with ABP and the professional training in communication and presentation skills can take place face-to-face in 2022. The program will end within one year, leaving the winners free to concentrate on their grade 12 exams. Charles Smith continued.
Registration for the ABP Angus Youth Challenge is done by means of a short video submission followed by an online interview. A selection of participants will be invited to participate in an exhibition style event during the Halloween break. An independent panel will judge the teams and their displays to determine which will qualify for the finalist program and win the prizes. A winning team will win £ 1,000 for their club / company or school.
Commenting on ABP’s commitment to this initiative, ABP Northern Ireland Managing Director, George Mullan said: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge connects with young people at an important stage in their education. We want to inspire them to work in our sector. We have seen how young people benefit from this experience and we invite more to access the opportunity it presents.
Ballymena Castle Tower School; Cross and Passion College Ballycastle; Ballymena Academy; Magherafelt High School and Omagh Academy will complete the finalist program at the end of this year. Meanwhile, the Dalriada Ballymoney school; Cookstown High School; Friends’ School Lisburn and St Kevin’s College Lisnaskea entered the finalist program in June 2021.
The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is open to teams of 2 to 4 people from schools, clubs, associations or a group of friends. Participants do not need to live on a farm or be part of a farming family to participate. ABP will assist the finalists in providing a suitable farm.
Take part in: ABP Angus Youth Challenge. The deadline for receipt of applications is September 27, 2021.