By Michelle Crean

Highlighting the physical health of farmers has helped two local students to get the next round of a national competition.

St Brigid's Transition Year students, Ciara O'Donoghue and Isabel Waters, have qualified for the interview stage of the Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition.

This competition showcases the innovative ideas from young agricultural enthusiasts, with a chance of winning five Angus calves to rear themselves.

Ciara and Isabel submitted a video application highlighting the physical health of farmers and its importance in the agricultural industry. It was then chosen from a large volume of entries to take them to the interview stage in the University of Limerick at the end of January.

"We chose to enter the competition as we are both from farming backgrounds and have seen the negative effects that some aspects of farming has on a farmer’s physical health," Ciara told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We saw this competition as an opportunity to raise awareness about this topic. We chose the topic of physical health as we believe it is often overlooked and farmers are relying too much on machinery. This is massively effecting their physical health."
 
Isabel added that they hope to spread awareness about this topic while also developing their skills and knowledge.

"We would like to enhance the physical health of farmers with our project and contribute valuable research to the agricultural industry," she said.
 
Teacher Claudia O'Donoghue said that "it is brilliant to see how eager and determined the girls are to make a change within the industry".

"They have highlighted a very important aspect of farming that is often ignored. The girls are working very hard to finalise their ideas and prepare for the next interview stage. It is great to see interest growing in girls and agriculture and I have no doubt that Ciara and Isabel will promote the area in a fantastic light."