The semi-finals for the FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2015 are under way. The county finalists for each enterprise are taking part in the semi-finals.

Six finalists will then be chosen to go through to the national final in Mayo on 1 September. The total prize fund for this year’s competition is €10,000. Prizes will be awarded to the overall FBD Young Farmer of the Year, as well as enterprise prizes for dairy, beef, sheep and other (tillage, pigs, poultry, etc).

In this final week of profiles, we introduce you to the sheep category county finalists.

Padraig Beattie

  • Age: 23.
  • County/region: Roscommon.
  • Macra club: South Roscommon.
  • Enterprise: Sheep. Keith Phelan
  • Age: 20.
  • County/region: Kilkenny.
  • Macra club: Mullinavat.
  • Enterprise: Sheep.

    • Kate Ryan

  • Age: 25.
  • County/region: Offaly.
  • Macra club: Ferbane/ Banagher.
  • Enterprise: Sheep. Graham Grothier
  • Age: 28.
  • County/region: Carlow.
  • Macra club: Clonegal/Kildavin.
  • Enterprise: Sheep.

    • James Maguire

  • Age: 23.
  • County/region: Louth.
  • Macra club: Stabannon.
  • Enterprise: Sheep.

    • Joseph Joyce

  • Age: 19.
  • County/region: Mayo.
  • Macra club: Westport.
  • Enterprise: Sheep. Niamh Woods
  • Age: 19.
  • County/region: Donegal.
  • Macra club: Proper Job.
  • Enterprise: Sheep.

    • Micheal Naughton

  • Age: 30.
  • County/region: Galway.
  • Macra club: Aughrim.
  • IFA branch: New Inn.
  • Enterprise: Sheep.

    • Aaron Forde, director and chair of Ornua, and chief executive officer of Aurivo Co-operative Society Limited since 1 March 2004, will lead a team of judges to determine Ireland’s top young farmer.

    Forde will chair the final adjudication panel of Macra’s FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition on 1 September in the Twin Trees Hotel, Ballina, Co Mayo.

    The overall winner of the competition will receive a bursary to undertake international travel and study farm practices.

    There will be sector prizes for beef, sheep, tillage, dairy, and other.