Show awards bursaries to farm students

Editorial Department • Published 25 Feb 2010 09:59 0 Comments

Two local students who are currently enrolled at Greenmount Campus have been awarded substantial bursaries from the Tyrone Farming Society. Aimee-Louise Leslie, from Enniskillen, has been announced as the recipient for this year (2009/10). She follows the success of Andrew Clarke from Monaghan, who received his award for the 2008/09 year. The investment has benefited both students on campus and in one case has already contributed to a very rewarding work placement in New Zealand.

The Tyrone Farming Society is known by many for its organisation of Omagh Show. The aims of the Society are mainly based on promoting education to improve production methods, the quality of livestock and in raising technical knowledge. With this in mind, Tyrone Farming Society provides an annual bursary to CAFRE to support education in the land based sector. Edwin Cartwright, Secretary of the Society, comments, "By supporting CAFRE's bursary programme we are pleased to be promoting the agri-food industry as a career to talented potential entrants. Our industry needs to constantly attract young talented individuals if it is to survive and thrive."

Andrew Clarke is currently studying on the HND in Agriculture programme. He used the award to help finance his travel to New Zealand where he has just completed a six month work placement on a dairy farm in the South Island. Just recently Andrew gave a presentation on his experiences and adventures in New Zealand at the Annual Meeting of Tyrone Farming Society in Omagh. He outlined the key differences in dairy farming in New Zealand and Europe. Meanwhile, Aimee-Louise Leslie is currently in first year of the BSc Agricultural Technology course offered in partnership between CAFRE and Queen's University Belfast. She chose this programme because of its "learning by doing" approach which provides opportunities to be actively involved in some of the farm enterprises at Greenmount.

After completing the National Christian School Certificate, Aimee-Louise had a successful gap year in Central Asia where she was involved in humanitarian aid work with nomadic yak farmers. Thanking the Tyrone Farming Society at a recent reception at Greenmount, Aimee-Louise commented, "I am very grateful to the Society for giving me this flying start at Greenmount. It is most encouraging that industry is willing to invest in young people embarking on a career in the land based sector."

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 25 Feb 10

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