Young sheep breeders get writing!

The competition will be broken up into two age categories – 16 and under, and 17 to 23 years (depending on number of entries).

The prizes for each group are vouchers to spend at the Irish Texel premier sale (vouchers are non-transferable and have to be redeemed in person).

The sale takes place on 9 and 10 August in Blessington, Co Wicklow, where there will be more than 300 sheep to choose from. First prize gets a €300 voucher, with €200 for second and €100 for third.

Following this the two section winners will be invited to a short interview on the Friday evening of the show and sale. Here three industry representatives will ask a number of questions to get a better understanding of the finalists understanding of the sheep sector. An overall winner will then be chosen with an extra €300 awarded. This means one lucky young breeder will be in with a chance of receiving a €600 to spend on a ewe or ram of their choice!

You don’t even have to be a Texel breeder to enter as the competition is open to all sheep enthusiasts aged 23 and under.

To enter simply write an article titled “Why youth should be investing in the sheep industry.” Articles are limited to 600 words and should touch off the area of why they would like to invest in the Texel breed and how the breed can be used in different farming set ups.

Entrants are asked to send their finished articles to smurphy@farmersjournal.ie and info@irishtexel.com no later then 25 July 2019. Please include name, address, date of birth and contact number with your entries.

Announcement of the winners will be in the following week’s paper with each section winner having their article published in the Irish Farmers Journal. All three top placings in each category will have their article published on the Texel society website and Facebook page as well as online at Irish Farmers Journal www.farmersjournal.ie.