Two Longford farmers complete inaugural Lakeland Dairies Young Farmer Programme

Cian Jobe from Aughnacliffe and Enda Farrell from Ballymahon have completed the Lakeland Dairies Young Farmer Programme.

Open to Lakeland Dairies suppliers and their adult family members under the age of 35, the Programme is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of their cooperative while giving them the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to play an active role in its future.

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Cian and Enda were part of a group of 26 young farmers who took part.

Throughout the Programme, participants engaged in a wide-ranging curriculum covering financial literacy, farm succession and inheritance planning, and the operational working of a modern dairy processing co-operative.

They also gained insights into the global dairy market, including international trade dynamics and the market forces shaping the industry.

Thanking the participants, Niall Matthews, Chairman, Lakeland Dairies, said: “With over 130 years behind us as a co-operative, our strength has always come from the strong personal relationships we have built with our farmer suppliers and shareholders.

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Succession, generational renewal, and encouraging young people into farming are challenges we all face.

That’s why we are focused on connecting with our younger members and programmes like this help us to do just that."