24 September 2024
Successful AgroChallenge for Teagasc students
For the second year in a row, a team of students representing Teagasc have returned home following success in the Europea AgroChallenge.
Students Charles Byrne and Avagh Carroll-Small, both attending Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College, along with James Coleman and Megan McCarthy, students in Mountbellew Agricultural College, represented Ireland in the Europea AgroChallenge competition, which took place in Olustvere and Sarevere, Estonia from September 19th to 22nd.
Pictured at the Europea AgroChallenge Competition in Estonia are from left to right: Enda Kennedy, team mentor from Mountbellew Agricultural College; Charles Byrne and Avagh Carroll-Small, students at Ballyhaise Agricultural College; Megan McCarthy and James Coleman, students at Mountbellew Agricultural College; and Fergus O’Rourke, team mentor from Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Competing against 17 other teams from agricultural education institutes across Europe, the Irish team’s skills were assessed across a range of timed tasks and disciplines over the course of the competition. Challenges were designed to test their competencies in machinery, agronomy, animal husbandry and forestry skills.
The results of the Europea AgroChallenge competition were announced at an awards ceremony on Saturday, September 21st, at which the Irish team of Avagh, Megan, Charles and James were awarded second prize in the log splitting element of the competition and third place in straw bale throwing task. Overall, the Irish team finished in eight place in the competition.
Over the course on the competition and in the weeks and months of preparation beforehand, the students were accompanied and supported by team mentors Enda Kennedy, Mountbellew Agricultural College, and Fergus O’Rourke, Ballyhaise Agricultural College, who offered their congratulations to the team.
“We are delighted that the students’ hard work in preparing for the event paid off. More importantly, however, was the way the students embraced the event and integrated with their European peers, which ensured that they represented our colleges and our country with pride and distinction,” they said.
Congratulating the Irish team on their excellent performance and thanking the FBD Trust for its continued support, Head of Education at Teagasc, Anne-Marie Butler said: “On behalf of Teagasc, I would like to congratulate Avagh, Megan, Charles and James on their excellent performance in Estonia, and to thank Enda and Fergus in their efforts of preparing the students for the competition and their support throughout.
“Events like the Europea AgroChallenge offer our students the opportunity to meet fellow students, learn and challenge themselves on the European stage, providing an added international element to their agricultural education journey. We very much look forward to supporting Teagasc students in competing in such competitions in the coming years.”
Also read: Apprenticeships proving popular at Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture