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Four Markethill High School pupils have been announced as worthy runners up in the 2025 ABP Angus Youth Challenge while a Crossmaglen schoolgirl took an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.
The ABP Angus Youth Challenge is delivered in partnership with the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group to give teenagers the opportunity to rear Angus cattle and complete a research project addressing real-world agricultural issues.
The team from Markethill High School was named runners-up. The team of Natasha Dickson, Rachel Johnston, Ellie Gilmore and Autumn Mulholland were praised for their project “Food Provenance: Do You Know What You Eat?” They developed and published a recipe cookbook, “A Cut Above the Rest,” featuring Northern Irish beef dishes. The project sold 280 copies, raising £2,300 for Air Ambulance NI and Rural Support NI, and engaged with the public through cookery demonstrations at the Armagh Show.
The Outstanding Individual Achievement Award went to Casey Jane Creegan from St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen. Alongside team-mate Michaela McGuinness, she worked on a project entitled “Sustainable Beef Consumption and the Young Consumer.” The judges recognised Casey Jane for her enthusiasm, teamwork and community commitment.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School was crowned the overall winners of the Challenge. The team impressed the judges with their project “One Health: The Link Between Animal, Human and Plant Health.”
The winners received the ABP Angus Youth Challenge Cup and a further £1,000 cash prize for their school.
Throughout the past year all four teams have been rearing Angus cross calves which were awarded to all finalists. Earlier this month they were able to sell their finished cattle to ABP and retain the proceeds for themselves.
The team from Lecale Trinity Grammar School, consisting of Ben O’Connor, Brent Magouran, Christopher Cunningham and Lochlann Hegarty, were also commended as finalists for their project “Raising Awareness of Animal Welfare Standards.” They hosted an Animal Welfare Conference at their school and developed education resources for schools, taking inspiration from an online meeting secured with the international expert in animal behaviour Temple Grandin.
Speaking at the ceremony, ABP’s George Mullan congratulated all the finalists. “These young people have shown curiosity, teamwork and pride in local agriculture. They’re exactly what the agri-food sector needs for the future,” he said.
Dr Sinclair Mayne, a leading scientist and agricultural adviser, also addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of food production to Northern Ireland’s economy. The event concluded with the ABP Angus Youth Exhibition, where new entrants for the 2026 Challenge showcased their early-stage projects in the hope of securing a place in next year’s final.
The programme helps participants develop practical farming, business, communication and leadership skills, supporting the next generation of agri-food professionals. ABP is one of Europe’s leading privately owned agribusiness companies and is the largest beef processor in Ireland and the UK with sites in Newry, Lurgan and Dungannon. The company also operates substantial renewable (Olleco), pet food (C&D), and protein divisions. ABP and its affiliates employ over 14,000 people and have over 50 manufacturing plants operating across nine countries. For more information, visit www.abpfoodgroup.com
