Keady pupil wins top prize in 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge
The pupil from Keady has been recognised for their outstanding achievement in the 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge, a prestigious competition that celebrates young people's skills and talents.
Gráinne Anderson of St Patrick’s High School, Keady, has received the Outstanding Achievement by an Individual award in the 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge, recognising her contribution to a team project exploring how technology can help create greater opportunities for women in agriculture.
The award was presented at the annual ABP Angus Youth Challenge ceremony at Logan Hall, Balmoral Park, Lisburn, on Thursday 22 October.
Working alongside teammates Minnie McKee and Sally McKee, Gráinne investigated the role of technology in addressing gender balance within the agricultural sector. With the help of a CAFRE mentor, their project examined how advances in agricultural technology can reduce physical demands, improve efficiency and help create new opportunities for women working across the industry.
The project highlighted the importance of innovation in supporting a modern, inclusive agricultural sector, while encouraging discussion about the barriers women can face and how technology can help address them.
The judging panel selected Gráinne from all the finalists across four school teams describing her as an outstanding ambassador for the ABP Angus Youth Challenge and for women in farming. The award recognised her contribution to the Challenge and the way she represented its aims of encouraging young people to explore the issues, opportunities and future direction of agriculture.
The overall winners of the 2026 ABP Angus Youth Challenge were Samantha Dunlop and Katie McNeilly of Ballymena Academy. The 2026 awards ceremony took place on 22 October at Logan Hall, Balmoral Park, Lisburn.
Delivered by ABP and Certified Irish Angus, the ABP Angus Youth Challenge gives young people the opportunity to investigate real-world agricultural issues, build practical skills and develop a greater understanding of the Northern Ireland agri-food industry. All finalists were also able to rear their own mini-herd of Angus cross cattle and pocket the proceeds of their sale to ABP.