Chloe Dwyer – Quinn’s of Baltinglass
“I’m from a farming background and after the Leaving Cert I wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. I decided UCD was the best option for me.
“I studied animal and crop production because I wanted to keep my options open and this would hopefully give me a wide range of possibilities within the sector after college.
“I applied for the graduate programme at Quinn’s this year which turned out to be a very lucky decision for me with these uncertain times we are in now. I applied to Quinn’s graduate programme which was set up three years ago and started working in July.
“I liked the setup of the programme because it offered the chance to rotate in the different areas. At the moment, I’m in the mill making pellets and rations, learning about animal nutrition. I’m dealing with the straight ingredients which means I get to know the product before it is distributed.
“In this day and age, I think it is a lot easier to be a woman in the agriculture sector than it previously was.
“Even in college, there was a 50:50 gender makeup within my course. I definitely think there is room there for women in agriculture to ‘boost through’ once you have an interest and a passion for what you’re doing.
“The agriculture sector is a great sector to be in because the possibilities are endless.”
Conor O’Halloran –
Agri-Lloyd Ireland
Conor O’Halloran, Agri-Lloyd Ireland.
“I grew up on a suckler farm in Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, so I suppose the love for agriculture started from a very young age. I studied agricultural science at Waterford Institute of Technology and found the course super for broadening my knowledge further in the livestock sector but also getting to know a bit about tillage and other systems along the way.
“I graduated from WIT with a first-class honours in June of this year and came across a very interesting opportunity to work alongside Agri-Lloyd Ireland as a breeding adviser. In spring 2020, they launched SireSense, a new genetics study comprising Dutch Holsteins, Dutch Friesians and Belgian Blue sires. In third year of college, I had travelled to France and worked alongside French genetics company Auriva Elevage in a breeding adviser role so when the chance to work as a breeding adviser here in Ireland for Agri-Lloyd arose, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I am working alongside farmers all over Ireland helping them to choose bulls to best suit their herds and maximise their breeding potential. As well as working with Agri-Lloyd, I also run the Glenwood herd of pedigree Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle alongside my parents and my two brothers. Covid-19, of course, has proved very difficult for everyone in their own way. I’m lucky in that Agri-Lloyd recruited me amid all the uncertainty and as essential service providers in the ag sector, the show must go on.”
Michelle Ward – Glanbia Ireland
Michelle Ward, Glanbia Ireland.
“Coming from a farming background in north Kilkenny, I am passionate about agriculture and have always wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. In 2018, I graduated with a BSc in Agriculture in Waterford Institute of Technology.
“I continued my studies by completing the BSc (Hons) in Land Management in Agriculture, also through WIT, before joining the Graduate programme at Glanbia in 2019.
“I chose the Glanbia graduate programme to progress further within the company.”
Balance
“The graduate programme also strikes an excellent balance between office and outdoor work as it follows a structure of 70:20:10, where 70% of learning is completed through on the job experience, supported with mentoring and formal training. Once enrolled on to the graduate programme, I was immediately given responsibilities and various projects to roll out. Over the past year, I have completed rotations across agribusiness, from assisting in branches to farm calls.
“Currently, I am involved with the Twenty20 Beef Club programme, developed by Glanbia Ireland and Kepak to improve the economic sustainability of calf-to-beef systems, where I provide technical support to existing Twenty20 members and focus on growing the club even further.”
Chloe Dwyer – Quinn’s of Baltinglass
“I’m from a farming background and after the Leaving Cert I wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. I decided UCD was the best option for me.
“I studied animal and crop production because I wanted to keep my options open and this would hopefully give me a wide range of possibilities within the sector after college.
“I applied for the graduate programme at Quinn’s this year which turned out to be a very lucky decision for me with these uncertain times we are in now. I applied to Quinn’s graduate programme which was set up three years ago and started working in July.
“I liked the setup of the programme because it offered the chance to rotate in the different areas. At the moment, I’m in the mill making pellets and rations, learning about animal nutrition. I’m dealing with the straight ingredients which means I get to know the product before it is distributed.
“In this day and age, I think it is a lot easier to be a woman in the agriculture sector than it previously was.
“Even in college, there was a 50:50 gender makeup within my course. I definitely think there is room there for women in agriculture to ‘boost through’ once you have an interest and a passion for what you’re doing.
“The agriculture sector is a great sector to be in because the possibilities are endless.”
Conor O’Halloran –
Agri-Lloyd Ireland
Conor O’Halloran, Agri-Lloyd Ireland.
“I grew up on a suckler farm in Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, so I suppose the love for agriculture started from a very young age. I studied agricultural science at Waterford Institute of Technology and found the course super for broadening my knowledge further in the livestock sector but also getting to know a bit about tillage and other systems along the way.
“I graduated from WIT with a first-class honours in June of this year and came across a very interesting opportunity to work alongside Agri-Lloyd Ireland as a breeding adviser. In spring 2020, they launched SireSense, a new genetics study comprising Dutch Holsteins, Dutch Friesians and Belgian Blue sires. In third year of college, I had travelled to France and worked alongside French genetics company Auriva Elevage in a breeding adviser role so when the chance to work as a breeding adviser here in Ireland for Agri-Lloyd arose, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I am working alongside farmers all over Ireland helping them to choose bulls to best suit their herds and maximise their breeding potential. As well as working with Agri-Lloyd, I also run the Glenwood herd of pedigree Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle alongside my parents and my two brothers. Covid-19, of course, has proved very difficult for everyone in their own way. I’m lucky in that Agri-Lloyd recruited me amid all the uncertainty and as essential service providers in the ag sector, the show must go on.”
Michelle Ward – Glanbia Ireland
Michelle Ward, Glanbia Ireland.
“Coming from a farming background in north Kilkenny, I am passionate about agriculture and have always wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. In 2018, I graduated with a BSc in Agriculture in Waterford Institute of Technology.
“I continued my studies by completing the BSc (Hons) in Land Management in Agriculture, also through WIT, before joining the Graduate programme at Glanbia in 2019.
“I chose the Glanbia graduate programme to progress further within the company.”
Balance
“The graduate programme also strikes an excellent balance between office and outdoor work as it follows a structure of 70:20:10, where 70% of learning is completed through on the job experience, supported with mentoring and formal training. Once enrolled on to the graduate programme, I was immediately given responsibilities and various projects to roll out. Over the past year, I have completed rotations across agribusiness, from assisting in branches to farm calls.
“Currently, I am involved with the Twenty20 Beef Club programme, developed by Glanbia Ireland and Kepak to improve the economic sustainability of calf-to-beef systems, where I provide technical support to existing Twenty20 members and focus on growing the club even further.”
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