Farming fame for Leitrim girls as they’re named future farmers of Ireland

Four budding young farmers have been named winners of the National Dairy Council’s (NDC) second annual Future Farmer 2025 competition—two of them hailing from Leitrim.

Madison Ward of Drumkeerin National School and Annie Joyce of St. Brigid’s NS in Drumcong were selected alongside Emily Lambes of St. Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore, Co. Westmeath, and Trish Halpin of Knocklong NS, Co. Limerick.

The four winners will each receive a €150 One4All voucher and a class trip to a working dairy farm, but the biggest honour comes this weekend when they take part in a special guest panel at the prestigious Bord Bia Bloom Festival in Dublin.

“Choosing the winner Future Farmers was especially difficult this year due to the amazing quality of the entries received,” said Sinead Whelan, Schools Programme Manager at NDC. “But the submissions by Madison, Annie, Emily, and Trish really stood out for us. Their enthusiasm and passion for farming was clear to see, and we can’t wait to have them with us at Bord Bia Bloom this Thursday to speak about the bright future they see in farming.”

Now in its second year, the Future Farmer competition aims to spark creativity and agricultural interest in primary school students across Ireland. Entrants were asked to submit imaginative entries explaining why they should be considered one of NDC’s Future Farmers.

The initiative is part of the NDC’s broader Moo Crew programme, which brings dairy and farming education into the classroom in a fun and accessible way.

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