Agri Aware to host Farm Walk and Talk event in Offaly
Agri Aware’s popular Farm Walk and Talk series is back for 2023, launched with the help of Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue at UCD Lyons farm in Kildare recently.
After a successful return last year, Agri Aware is offering up extended dates to meet the growing demand and will see almost 4,000 students attend this year - an increase of 1,000 . Over the years students have had memorable Farm Walk and Talk days, from observing milking, grading cattle and grass measuring, to attending sustainability talks and even participating in the live lambing of sheep!
Locally, there are two events of interest - the first is on March 7 at the Teagasc Agricultural College in Gurteen in Tipperary, just a few miles from Birr.
The second is on on March 23 at the Irish Farmers Journal Farm, Tullamore
Registration is now open for the events. Places for the events are on a first come, first served basis, and will be accompanied by a set of printed educational notes and a suite of classroom friendly video assets. Teachers can view the events and register their class here.
The launch was also followed by a roundtable advocacy meeting, which allowed the key partners of the events – Agri Aware, IASTA, Teagasc, UCD and the Irish Farmers Journal - the opportunity to speak to the Minister about concerns voiced by many in the agriculture sector on the difficulty of the new agricultural science curriculum, and the effect it is having on the uptake of the subject in schools.
"The Agri Aware Farm Walk and Talk series is a tremendous initiative in ensuring that we showcase the huge work the committed and dedicated farmers of Ireland do every day. It is hugely important for Ag Science students to see, first-hand, the great work that goes on farms," Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue commented.
“Ag Science students are the farmers, the food scientists and the leaders of the next generation of our outstanding industry. We are an industry that supports every rural parish in the country and has exports of over €16bn. It is crucial that we continue to develop and sustainably grow our sector and I know our Ag. Science students will take on the baton and lead us with distinction,” he added.
Alan Jagoe, Agri Aware Chairman added that Agri Aware’s Farm Walk and Talk gives thousands of Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science students an insight into a day on the farm and the hard work goes along with it.
"Farm Walk and Talk allows students to see the topics they learn about in action on a working farm. The students 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 understanding of agriculture and their future in it,” Mr Jagoe remarked.
Joe Corroon, IASTA Chairman The Irish Agricultural Science Teachers’ Association, IASTA, said they are delighted to be involved once again in the national Farm Walk and Talk events for Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science students preparing for their exam.
"Over the years, thousands of Ag. Science students have taken the opportunity to go to the Farm Walk and Talks, at various locations, and gained a deeper, more practical knowledge of what they have studied in the classroom.
"We in IASTA would like to thank Agri aware for their planning and delivery of the annual Farm Walk and Talk events. We would also like to pay tribute to Teagasc, UCD and the Irish Farmers Journal who are always willing to make their farms available for these events," he added.
Farm Walk and Talk is a collaborative event between Agri Aware, IASTA, UCD, Irish Farmers Journal and Teagasc.