4,000 students expected at Agri Aware’s Farm Walk & Talk series
Agri Aware’s Farm Walk & Talk series is set to kick off next Wednesday, February 26, providing second level students with the opportunity for hands-on learning on farms nationally.
Through the series of events, teachers and students across Ireland visit various Teagasc agricultural colleges and research centres, as well as UCD’s Lyon’s Estate and the Irish Farmers Journal Tullamore demonstration farm.
From observing cows being milked, comparing different breeds of cattle, examining soil profiles, lamb births, to watching piglets suckle and farm safety demonstrations, the students get to experience the realities of the subjects that they are taught each day in the classroom.
Chairman of Agri Aware Shay Galvin speaking with Ben Whelan, Aoighinn Higgins, Holly Butler, Evan O'Shea and Kadie O'Keeffe from Ard Scoil na Mara Tramore Co. Waterford, at the Agri Aware Farm Walk & Talk event at Kildalton Agricultural College last year.
At total of 15 events are scheduled from February 26 to March 20. Three events are planned for the first week. Gurteen Agricultural College in Co. Tipperary is the opening venue of this year’s series, while events are also planned at the Irish Farmers Journal Beef and Sheep Demonstration Farm in Co. Offaly, Salesian Agricultural College in Co. Limerick in week one.
Some 4,000 students are expected to attend across the 15 events scheduled, where the Agri Aware team, alongside event partners Teagasc, the Irish Farmers Journal and the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and patrons will be delivering talks and demonstrations on all elements of the Leaving Certificate Agriculture Science curriculum at each of the events.
Speaking ahead of the start of next week’s Farm Walk & Talk events, Agri Aware’s Executive Director Marcus O’Halloran said: “Farm Walk & Talk is our flagship secondary school event aimed at students studying Agriculture Science and we are thrilled to be rolling it out again this year alongside our event partners and patrons for a 16th consecutive year.
“The time to promote the Leaving Certificate Agriculture Science subject has never been greater and although the event is designed for students already studying the subject, we hope the noise the series makes will ring in the ears of students deciding on their subject choices now who are in 3rd year or Transition Year.
“Events like Farm Walk & Talk are unique and give a real practical hands on experience to students studying the subject. We are also conscious some students may not have been on a farm before and the importance of those students getting to experience that is hugely important,” he concluded.