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One of schools currently on the finalist programme of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge is St. Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen. The team was recognised at the ABP’s Balmoral Show stand for their #BeefUpYourPlate social media campaign during NI Beef Week.
Judged by ABP, Certified Irish Angus, the Livestock and Meat Commission and the Downtown Country Presenter Victoria Quinn, the pupil’s work won for its effective promotion of cooking with locally sourced Angus beef in a vibrant and shareable way.
The Challenge offers 14–15-year-olds a hands-on "farm-to-fork" experience, including rearing their own Angus-cross calves and working on sustainability-themed projects.
Delaney Certified Irish Angus; Lauren Patterson, Livestock and Meat Commission
and Stuart Cromie, ABP with Michaela McGuiness and Casey Jane Creegan of
St. Joseph's Crossmaglen. The pupils are finalists in the ABP Angus Youth Challenge
and were presented with goodie bags for successsfully helping to promote NI Beef Week.
ABP leveraged its platform at the 2025 Balmoral Show to actively engage with young people about careers and opportunities in agriculture and agrifood, with a special focus on its graduate programme and its award-winning ABP Angus Youth Challenge. Visitors to the ABP stand at Balmoral could view Angus-cross calves, symbolising the unique prize that is awarded to each finalist team.
Adding to the celebrations, the ABP Angus Youth Challenge was honoured with the Corporate Social Responsibility Programme of the Year award at the Business Eye Sustainability & ESG Awards held in the Culloden Hotel on 15 May 2025. This accolade recognises the programme's significant impact on youth development and agri-sustainability education in Northern Ireland.
George Mullan, Managing Director of ABP in Northern Ireland, commented: “The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is more than just a competition—it’s about creating opportunities for young people to build skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the agri-food supply chain. Now in its seventh year, we are seeing many participants progressing on to third level courses in agriculture and agrifood. We also welcomed one of the very first winners of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge on to the ABP graduate programme last September.”
Entries to the ABP Angus Youth Challenge open again this September to 14-15 year olds in Year 11.
For more information, visit the ABP Angus Youth Challenge website.
