Kilkenny students invited to Ag Fair with star of TV show 'Clarkson's Farm'

Farmer, entrepreneur and TV star Kaleb Cooper has been announced as the special guest at this year’s inaugural Intro to Ag Fair.

The event is being hosted by Agri Aware and Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB), on Monday, April 13, at the Aviva Stadium.

Projects submitted by students who took part in the Intro to Ag programme will be given the chance to impress Kaleb and fellow judges to be in with a chance of being crowned the national winner.

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The Intro to Ag Transition Year (TY) programme is designed to encourage students to take up Agricultural Science for Senior Cycle, while also introducing them to Further Education and Training (FET) pathways, and career opportunities within the agri sector.

This unique event will showcase the learnings from the programme, while also demonstrating to stakeholders in the agri-food sector the work Agri Aware and LOETB are actively implementing in this area of second level education.

After the announcement of the national winner, Kaleb will sit down and talk about his journey to date from becoming a farmer and contractor in the Cotswolds, to appearing on the hit Prime Video series ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ to travelling to the other side of world sharing his story from humble beginnings to worldwide fame that has helped to shine a light on the agricultural sector in the UK and further afield.

Kaleb will be joined by beef and tillage farmer and YouTube sensation Philip Stewart or otherwise known as ‘Farmer Phil’, while Katie Gleeson aka ‘Katie in the Country’ will chair the panel.

Agri Aware Chair Shay Galvin said: “Days like this are a unique opportunity to showcase the brilliant work ongoing at second level education to promote the agri-food sector and encourage the youth of today to consider a career in the sector.”

LOETB Chief Executive Joe Cunningham said: “Initiatives like the Intro to Ag programme are essential in supporting young people to make informed decisions about their future, highlighting the diverse pathways available through Further and Higher Education and Training, as well as the wide-ranging career opportunities open to them.”