The third annual National Dairy Awards will take place next month and Laois is set to be well represented.
The awards are scheduled for the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on the evening of June 19 and Laois has four nominations.
Maria Phelan of Laois Organic in Durrow and Bruce Thompson of Camcloon Dairy in Ballyfin are both finalists in the Kerry Dairy Ireland Biodiversity Dairy Farmer of the year.
The third finalist is Cathal Fleming of J & C Fleming, from The Swan.
A minor All-Ireland football winner with Laois in 2003, Cathal is a finalist in the Lely Atlantic Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the year category.
While the fourth is Martin O’Reilly from Killeshin who is in the Young Farmer of the Year category.
Initially launched in 2023, the awards celebrate all that is good in the dairy industry.
Heralded by organisers as ‘the best night in the dairy calendar’, the event is black-tie and honours the farmer, farm manager, dairy advisor, dairy vet and dairy innovator.
The awards acknowledge their dedication and hard work and this celebration of excellence also extends beyond the farm.
It goes to the artisan champions, the processors, the discussion groups and the industry leaders, who are blazing a trail in ingenuity, creativity and sustainability.
The awards are organized by Agri Insider and Agrliand.
Best of luck to Martin, Cathal, Maria and Bruce!
