Enniskillen Royal Grammar School was crowned the overall winner of the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge at an awards ceremony and exhibition on 23 October at Balmoral Park.

When the competition first launched in 2017, there were 22 Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) examination centres for the GCSE agriculture and land use subject. Now in 2025, that number has risen to 35 centres, demonstrating the expanding interest among young people in food production, farming, and land management as career and study pathways.

The winning team this year impressed the judges with their project ‘One Health: The Link Between Animal, Human and Plant Health,’ which tackled the important area of soil health and farmer education.

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In response to research, the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School group developed a soil analysis results guide, simplifying data for on-farm decision-making. The guide has since been distributed to local vets, marts, and agricultural stores.

Judges described the project as “an outstanding example of research applied to deliver real benefits”.

Conor Phair, Mackenzie Wilson, Jenson Lindsay and Alfie Thompson also organised a ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy Future’ conference attended by more than 130 farmers and industry guests.

The group also able raised £6,540 for Air Ambulance NI and Rural Support during their time as finalists in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge. They received the ABP Angus Youth Challenge cup and a further £1,000 cash prize for their school.

Throughout the past year, all four teams have been rearing Angus cross calves which were awarded to all finalists. Earlier this month. they were able to sell their finished cattle to ABP and retain the proceeds for themselves.

Natasha Dickson, Rachel Johnston, Ellie Gilmore and Autumn Mulholland from Markethill High School were named runners-up. They were praised for their project ‘Food Provenance: Do You Know What You Eat?’.

The group developed and published a recipe cookbook, A Cut Above the Rest, featuring Northern Irish beef dishes. The project sold 280 copies, raising £2,300 for Air Ambulance NI and Rural Support NI, and engaged with the public through cookery demonstrations at the Armagh Show.

Speaking at the ceremony, George Mullan, managing director of ABP in Northern Ireland congratulated all the finalists. “These young people have shown curiosity, teamwork and pride in local agriculture. They’re exactly what the agri food sector needs for the future,” he said.