Agri Aware’s popular Farm Walk and Talk series is back for 2024 with second level students studying agriculture science soon set to walk onto farms from Donegal down to Cork over as far as Meath.
This year’s series sees an extra venue added to an already action-packed schedule in order to cater for the ever-increasing demand of this series in Donegal.
After a successful 2023 where just under 4,000 students took part, Agri Aware is looking forward to meeting teachers and students once again on farms where the most modern, up-to-date research, technology and practices are implemented on.
Over the years students have had memorable Farm Walk and Talk days, from observing milking, grading beef cattle, to attending sustainability and farm safety talks and even participating in the live lambing of sheep!
This year’s launch took place at the Irish Farmers Journal Demonstration Farm in Tullamore Co. Offaly which is one of the venues once again for this year’s series.
On the day, Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin and Executive Director Marcus O’Halloran were joined by partners of the series which include the Irish Farmers Journal, Teagasc and University College Dublin School of Agriculture and Food Science as well as students from St. Joseph’s Secondary in Rochfortbridge Co. Offaly.
Students this year will once again receive a physical copy of the Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk student notes booklet, which were very popular among students and teachers last year. This booklet delves into many key areas of the curriculum as well as aiding students in the work they must undertake for their Individual Investigative Study (IIS) as part of the course.
Giving an insight into the importance of the Farm Walk and Talk series at the launch in Tullamore was Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin.
He said: “The Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk series is a fantastic initiative in ensuring that students across the country can access and see the work that goes on in the Irish agriculture industry.
“It is hugely important for agriculture science students to see first-hand the great work that goes on farms which imparts an appreciation for the work Irish farmers do to produce quality sustainable food 365 days of the year.
“It is vital we pass on the most up-to-date research and best practices to the next generation, as the students we will be meeting over the next few weeks will be the primary food producers, food scientists and leaders in the agriculture industry that we will be relying on to drive this industry forward.
“Agri Aware’s Farm Walk and Talk gives Leaving Certificate agricultural science students an insight and appreciation into the work involved in running a farm and the hard work that goes along with it in making it a successful viable enterprise.
“Farm Walk and Talk allows students to see the topics they learn about in action on a working farm. Students also have the opportunity to talk to industry experts and see developments in farming first-hand.
“We hope those who come to Farm Walk and Talk will leave with a greater appreciation and understanding of Irish agriculture with the hope that both give them an edge in their studies of this subject come exam time.”