2017 Archive Archives - Page 19 of 19 - National Ploughing Association

Brown Bread Qualifers

Posted on 31/05/2017 by National Ploughing Association

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will return to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore from 19th-21st September 2017. The popular competition is in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and sponsored by Aldi.

The qualifiers of The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will be held nationally through the ICA, with the Regional Finals taking place at An Grianán, ICA Adult Education Centre on Thursday 24th August. The National Semi Finals and Final will be held from 19th to 21st September at the Aldi Marquee during the 2017 National Ploughing Championships in Co. Offaly.

Please click here to download our PDF with all the information on the Final National Brown Bread Federation Heats 2017

Brown Bread Baking Competition

Posted on 29/05/2017 by National Ploughing Association

National Brown Bread Baking Competition back by popular demand
The National Brown Bread Baking Competition will return to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore from 19th-21st September 2017. The popular competition is in association with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) and sponsored by Aldi. Relaunched three years ago by the NPA, the event has proven to be a huge success, with entries from each one of the 26 counties. Top model and keen baker Holly Carpenter was joined by reigning champion Phyllis McGovern to announce details of this year’s competition.
Speaking of the launch, MD of NPA, Anna May McHugh said,’ The National Brown Bread Baking Competition continues to be a huge attraction at the National Ploughing Championships. There wonderful prizes to be won. All federation heats will be finished by the end of June so be sure to get in early.’
The National Brown Bread Baking competition is open to both members and non-members of the ICA, and baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some serious ‘dough’, with a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in stores*. Second place will receive €1,000, €500 for third, €300 for fourth and the other semi-finalists will all get €200 each**.

NO REPRO FEE 25/05/2017 The National Brown Bread Baking Competition. Aldi will once again this year sponsor The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA). Relaunched three years ago by the NPA, the event has proven to be a huge success, with entries from each one of the 26 counties. Top model and keen baker Holly Carpenter was today joined by reigning champion Phyllis McGovern to announce details of this year’s competition. The National Brown Bread Baking competition is open to both members and non-members of the ICA, and baking enthusiasts have the opportunity to earn some serious ‘dough’, with a share of the profits from the sale of their winning loaf once it goes on sale in Aldi*. The final will be held in the Aldi Marquee at the National Ploughing Championships in September. Log onto www.aldi.ie for more information. *Prize fund up to €10,000. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

* The winner’s brown bread will also be stocked in all Aldi Stores in Ireland for a minimum of six months and they will receive a share of the profits, guaranteed to be at least €10,000.
**All winners (with the exception of first place) will receive their prizes in Aldi Vouchers.

Innovation Arena Awards 2017

Posted on 23/05/2017 by National Ploughing Association

Prize fund equating to over €80,000 in supports for innovative agri companies

The National Ploughing Championships Innovation Arena Awards, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal, has opened for applications. Irish agri companies are invited to showcase their products and innovations at the heart of the NPA Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, 19 -21 September 2017.

Innovation Awards winners will be announced across a range of categories including ‘Agri Engineering’ and ‘Agricultural Technology’. The overall start-up winner will be eligible to win up to €5,000 cash prize.
The Innovation Arena is the ideal place to showcase ground-breaking agri-related developments, whether they are inventions developed at home or professional innovations from top companies, to the thousands of visitors the National Ploughing Championships attracts each year.

Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships; Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal and Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright© Fennell Photography 2017

This year’s Arena will focus on putting Irish agri-innovations on a world stage and will include seminars on Brexit, Agri-Careers and Global Markets as well as facilitating networking opportunities. Last year’s competition attracted 200 entries; 55 were shortlisted as 2016 finalists and invited to exhibit in the Innovation Arena.

Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships; Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland and Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal

Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland said: “The agri sector is of huge importance to the Irish economy and a key role of Enterprise Ireland is to help companies in the sector scale-up. The Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key event for Enterprise Ireland where we showcase the top Irish agri-innovations to international buyers. This year, we will launch a new initiative that will see an ‘Innovation Boot Camp’ held on August 22 at the Irish Farmers Journal demonstration farm in Tullamore. This Boot Camp will deliver advice, mentoring, and support for innovators in the agri sector and we look forward to seeing the next wave of Irish agri companies coming to the fore”.

Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal said: “The Farmers Journal is leading change and innovation across the agricultural industry, and indeed in our own business. Irish agricultural products both in food and manufacturing have a worldwide reputation. Our green based production systems and spin off industries are the foundation of our success. The Farmers Journal is excited about our involvement with partners Enterprise Ireland and the National Ploughing to promote established and start-up companies.”
Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships said: “The National Ploughing has been a fore runner in innovation since 1931 for agriculture and indeed rural Ireland as a whole. We are again delighted to team up with Enterprise Ireland and the Farmers Journal to facilitate the Innovation Arena for 2017. This year sees the partnership grow even stronger with the largest arena ever and a strong focus on Irish manufacturing and products.”

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Justin McCarthy, CEO and Editor in Chief, Irish Farmers Journal and Ann May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Championships

The 2017 NPA Innovation Arena prize fund equates to over €80,000 in supports – up €15,000 when compared to last year’s competition. The overall award winner will receive a top prize worth €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Farmers Journal which includes advertising and PR support, mentoring and a cash prize of €5,000. All finalists will receive an advertising voucher to promote their innovation through the Irish Farmers Journal and a subsidised stand in the Innovation Arena for 2017. The final participants for the 2017 Innovation Arena will be selected on 22 August.

To enter this year’s Innovation Arena Awards please visit:
https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/2074/register

Cork Chairman For NPA

Posted on 10/05/2017 by National Ploughing Association

First Cork Chairman For NPA In 57 Years

At the Annual General Meeting of the National Ploughing Association in Abbeyleix yesterday Denis Keohane, Clonakilty, West Cork was elected as Chairman marking the first West Cork Chairman since 1961 (Larry Sexton).

Farmer and contractor, Denis is a Director of the NPA for over 20 years, involved in ploughing since he was a teenager he has served his apprenticeship as an officer at all levels of the Association. A respected ploughing Judge at National and International level and a key figure in the running of the National Event Denis is an excellent choice for the position.

Padraig Nolan, Roscommon elected as Vice Chairman makes history as the first ever officer of the NPA from Roscommon.

The NPA reported another record breaking event in Screggan, Tullamore last year and confirming that plans for this year’s Championships at the same venue from 19th – 21nd September are well underway with Exhibition Space almost full at this stage.

Other business included Managing Director Anna May McHugh announced the publication of her autobiography by Penguin Ireland in September 2017 saying ‘I have been asked many times down through the years “when are you writing the book?” so it has been a long time coming. This is my 66th year working for the National Ploughing Association and I have lived through many changes and challenges in life, business and society. I am enjoying writing my story as it evokes so many memories and I hope readers will find that it’s worth the read!’