Good luck! Kilkenny team ready to take on Colleges Challenge Day

A team of Kilkenny-based students are preparing to defend their title at an annual Challenge Day.

The Agricultural Colleges Challenges Day is set to be held on February 12 in Clonakilty Agricultural College.

The challenges are based around leadership and teamwork and bring students together from seven agricultural colleges: Kildalton Agricultural College in County Kilkenny, Mount Bellew Agricultural College in Co. Galway, Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan, Gurteen Agricultural College in Co. Tipperary, Clonakilty Agricultural College in Co. Cork, Botanic Gardens College of Horticulture in Co. Dublin and Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry in Limerick.

Twelve students from each college will participate in various competitions such as indoor soccer, simulator challenge, stock judging, fencing and tractor driving, to name a few.

The Farm Business and Technology Award, sponsored by National Broadband Ireland, will return for a fourth year.
“This year the students have been challenged with a very practical and hands-on task to research and identify areas at risk of water pollution, and to suggest methods of preventing environmental contamination,” said Niall Beirne, NBI’s Head of Corporate Communications.

In 2024, a team of three students from Kildalton College took the prize of first place in the Farm Business and Technology Award and Kildalton were also crowned the overall winners on the day.

The FRS Memorial Scholarship will also return this year. One student from each college will have the opportunity to present on ‘Leadership in Sustainability.’ The winner will receive a scholarship of three months placement in an FRS office.
“FRS Co-Op is honoured to sponsor the challenge day and to present the FRS Memorial Scholarship, which serves as a tribute to our valued past colleagues and friends of FRS Co-Op,” said Colette McInerney, Head of Operations at FRS Farm Services.

“We are excited to see the outstanding presentations from this year’s student cohort, as they consistently showcase exceptional quality. It will be a pleasure to award another work placement, supporting a student on their journey to a successful career.”

Anne-Marie Butler, Head of Education, added: “Macra Challenge Day is a highlight of the academic year for all our learners and colleges. It’s great to see college teams working together, applying their knowledge and skills across a number of challenges and most importantly having fun.”