The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards in association with Macra, are sponsored annually by FBD and run by Macra in partnership with the IFA and Macra Agricultural Skillnet. The competition was launched in 1999 and has been successful in raising the profile of young farmers within their community by recognising their achievements and contributions to farming.
Categories & Awards
The competition includes category awards for:
- Dairy
- Dry stock (Beef and Sheep Farming)
- Career Farm Management
- Land Mobility (Collaborative Arrangements, Shared Milking, Contract Rearing, etc.)
- Other Enterprises (including Horticulture, Pigs, Poultry, Tillage, Equine, Forestry, etc.)
Young farmers in these sectors are invited to enter, and the winner of each category will compete to be crowned the 2026 FBD Young Farmer of the Year.
There are also awards for Best Young Entrant (Under 23 years of age) and Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award.
Key Dates
Application Opening Date: 7th May 2026
Application Closing Date: 3rd July 2026
Video Interview Screening: July/August 2026
Semi-Final Interviews: 11th August 2026
Final: 8th September 2026, The Heritage Hotel, Laois
Who is Eligible?
To enter the competition, farmers must be:
- under 35 years of age on 1st January 2026 and a member of either Macra or the IFA.
- involved in the running of the farm on which they currently work, for at least three years, either full-time or part-time.
Application / Nomination
Members can nominate a young farmer for one of the categories or complete the self-application form. All nominations will be invited to complete the full application form.
🔗Nomination Form: https://form.jotform.com/260984078102357
🔗Self-Application Form: https://form.jotform.com/260704145273351
Video Interview Screening
Applicants will be asked to complete an interview online. Each candidate will receive the same questions. The video interviews will be screened by two judges who will choose the semi-finalists for the competition.
Semi-Final Interviews
The semi-final interviews will take place in August 2026. Five category winners and one wild card will be selected to go forward to the final on 8th September in the Heritage Hotel, Laois. All semi-finalists will be invited to attend the final, and the finalists will be announced after lunch on 8th September.
Final & Prizes
The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Final will take place on 8th September in the Heritage Hotel, Laois. All six finalists will be invited to interview on the afternoon of 8th September in the Heritage Hotel, Laois.
The prizes are as follows:
- Overall Winner: €5000
- Each Category Winner: €1000
- Best Young Entrant: €1000
- Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Award: €500
Each winner will also receive vouchers from the FBD Hotel Group and FBD Insurance.
*This competition is subject to annual review in consultation with FBD and IFA. Accordingly, these details may change.
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Previous FBD Young Farmer of the Year Winners
2025: Aileen Sheehan
2024: Christopher Cahill
2023: Dwayne Shiels
2022: Christopher Tuffy
2021: Owen Ashton
2020: Dara Kileen
2019: Liam Hanrahan
2018: Daniel Hawthorne
2017: PJ O Keefe
2016: Kevin Moran
2015: Jonathan Marry
2014: Sean O Donnell
2013: John Buckley
2012: Dermott O Connor
2011: Kevin Heavin
2010: Paul Kehoe
2009: William Keane
2008: Timothy Quinn
2007: Bryan Daniels
2006: Eddie O Donnell
2005: John McNamara
2004: Martin Brosnan
2003: Michael Gowing
2002: Michael Reidy
2001: Andrew Killeen
2000: Con O Connell
1999: Michael Dee