Kilkenny pupils have been invited to take part in the second annual Future Farmer Competition, launched this week by the National Dairy Council (NDC) with the help of Irish rugby player Garry Ringrose. The NDC is looking for enthusiastic young people from around the country to tell them why they want to be a Future Farmer. Four winners will be chosen, with each receiving a €150 One4All voucher, a guest spot on the panel at Bloom Festival this summer, and – new this year – a class trip to a working dairy farm for their entire class. The inaugural event last year was a huge success, with schools across the country entering with the hope of winning the top prize. Last year’s winners also got to meet the Taoiseach at Bord Bia Bloom, where they discussed with him what they loved about farming and what they hoped for in their future career. To enter, students are invited to send a video, voice note, essay or poster to the NDC by email at futurefarmer@ndc.ie or Instagram via @ndc_ie before 5pm on Friday, May 2. It is not limited to students living on farms, and pupils of all backgrounds are encouraged to enter. The winners will be announced on Friday, May 9, with the panel at Bord Bia Bloom taking place on Friday, May 30. Sinead Whelan, Schools Programme Manager at NDC, said, “The future of the dairy industry lies in the hands of the next generation of farmers who will assume stewardship over the land and the responsibility for providing us with healthy, nutritional dairy products into the future. "I see first hand the passion that young people have for a collaborative, positive future in this country, and the Future Farmer Competition is one way of encouraging them to record their hopes and ambitions for the decades to come.” Garry Ringrose, Leinster and Ireland rugby player, added, "When I was coming up in rugby, getting my nutrition right was just as important as training hard. A solid, balanced diet wasn’t just about growing—it was about fueling my body for the demands of the game. "Irish dairy has been a key part of that for me, packed with the nutrients I needed to develop and perform at my best. For the next generation of athletes to succeed, we’ll also need dedicated food producers behind them, which is why I’m proud to support the Future Farmer initiative with the National Dairy Council." For more information about the Future Farmer competition visit www.moocrew.ie.