Kelly Duffin, a past pupil of Ramsgrange Community School, Ramsgrange, Co Wexford has been awarded Glanbia/ASA/IFJ placement bursary.
The second year student is studying BSc in Agriculture.
Each year the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) teams up with the Irish Farmers Journal, Glanbia and Seedtech to provide a placement bursary to students in the BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Science and BSc in Agriculture to support costs associated with farm/industrial placement.
Three industry representatives took part in virtual interviews with agriculture/agricultural science placement students on 12 January 2021 to decide winners of the annual placement bursaries. These were: Denise Stuart, Administration Manager, Seedtech; Pat Tennyson, Senior Business Manager, Glanbia and Anne Marie Butler, Senior Ag Manager, Ulster Bank/President of the Agricultural Science Association.
Kelly explains why she applied for the ASA/Glanbia Farm Placement Bursary.
“I applied for the ASA/Glanbia Farm Placement Bursary as I feel the experiences I will gain from both working on a dairy farm and writing my blog for the Farmer’s Journal during my work placement will be extremely beneficial to my future career.”
Practical and theory combination
Kelly outlines what it is like to be a student on WIT’s three-year Agriculture degree. “I really enjoy my Agriculture course at WIT because it entails both theory and practicals, the theory is thought through lectures which give the vital information needed to run a successful farm business and the knowledge I will need to get a job in the agricultural business sector while also getting the opportunity to put what I have learned into practice during our practical classes which are held in Kildalton College.”
Her dreams for the future are to become a college lecturer teaching agriculture to students. She is going to complete the Level 8 Land Management in Agriculture course in WIT after her level 7 BSc in Agriculture. Kelly's dream has always been to become a college lecturer or a farm advisor as she loves the thought of being able to help out farmers/students with her knowledge which she has learned from both college and her own personal experiences and research.
Dairy experience
Kelly is really looking forward to gaining experience working in the dairy sector during her farm placement. She is keen to gain new skills in this growing industry. Kelly's Dad runs a beef finishing farm and Kelly's plan after placement is to buy calves and rear them on her home farm after seeing how calves are reared during her work experience.
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