April FBD Farm Safe Schools Regional Champs announced

We are so excited to share with you the winners in our inaugural FBD Farm Safe Schools Regional Champion awards.

The Champions were selected after being nominated by their teachers and will be awarded a certificate of achievement and a family pass to Dublin Zoo, kindly sponsored by FBD.   These Champions are truly demonstrating excellence, innovation and commitment to improving farm safety awareness as part of the pilot programme. 

They have gone above and beyond what is expected of them within the programme. They are passionate not just about farming but about making sure the message of farm safety is included and very much part of the conversation in their classrooms, at home and in their community. 

 The winners are:

Leinster: Clodagh George, 4th class, Arles National School, Co. Laois

Munster: Gearóid Ryan, Scoil Naomh Cualán, 3rd class, ,Co. Tipperary

Ulster: Conor, 6th class, Ballymore National School, Co. Donegal

Connacht: David Nally, 5th class, Castleplunkett National School, Co. Roscommon 

Scroll down to see meet the winners

Farm Safe Schools coordinator and AgriKids founder, Alma Jordan explained what made the winners stand out from the crowd.

 ‘We received a huge volume of entries for this inaugural FBD Regional Awards and it proves the ability and capability of our children to change the culture around farm safety’. The winners have clearly demonstrated their passion for this topic and their willingness to share their learnings at home and with their classmates. They are growing the farm safety conversation and this is exactly what Farm Safe Schools is all about’.

FBD Chief Commercial Officer, John Cahalan, explains why this aspect of the programme is so important.

“The Farm Safe Schools programme not only empowers our children to prioritise safety, but also champions those children who are passionate about the topic and have the potential to enact real change. We at FBD are proud to support this programme. We welcome any opportunity to promote farm safety and I am delighted that FBD is sponsoring this innovative schools programme to improve farm safety awareness across the country.”

IFA President Tim Cullinan said the programme is playing an important role in changing the culture around farm safety.

“The school setting – whether in the classroom or remotely – is an excellent approach to reinforce an essential message. Recognising champions in the classroom instils a message the children can take with them through their lives,” he said.

Agri Aware Chairman, Alan Jagoe expressed his delight to all the regional winners.

“The Farm Safe Schools programme sets out to create learning and understanding on the topic of farm safety to younger children. These regional award winners are a testament to the talent, tenacity and potential our children have in creating a safer future on Irish farms. I want to thank their teachers for bringing the programme into the classrooms and for recognising the champions in their class’.

I would like to thank FBD Trust for its continued support of this dedicated farm safety programme,” added Mr Jagoe

Meet the winners

Clodagh George: Arles NS, Co Laois - LEINSTER
Clodagh’s great love of farming and knowledge of all thing’s agriculture has really inspired the children in her class to take an active role in promoting health and safety on their farms and in the local area.
Clodagh has proven that farming is not just for the boys by demonstrating how everyone has an important role to play in making our farms safe. She has gone above and beyond by creating videos, taking pictures, and sharing stories of her life on the farm!
Clodagh's teacher is extremely proud of Clodagh and her wonderful commitment to the School’s Farm Safety campaign; she even got a head start on module two over Easter!

Conor, Ballymore NS, Donegal, ULSTER
Conor is a very dedicated farmer and has been fantastic at supporting his teacher in the delivery of the programme.  The programme lessons have had such a positive impact on his school experience, his confidence and his outlook. He has gone home and thought about the modules, brought in photographs of farm safety in action, found out information from his dad and uncle to questions we were unsure of and has even delivered a lesson or two in the class from module 1 and 2. 


David Nally, Castleplunkett NS, Roscommon - Connacht
David has shown exceptional interest and dedication to his fam coursework, shows knowledge beyond his years and is only too pleased to share this with his peers.

David himself has completed a beekeeping course and received bees for his birthday. He regularly shares information and videos of the bees and specifically educated us on the dangers of pesticides in relation to the survival of the bees and the safety procedures in gathering honey.

In addition, David is a keen crop grower. He advised his teachers on what crops would be successful in their newly renovated vegetable patch and with his dad, brought a trailer of topsoil for us to use. He was very clear in explaining why you should not touch the crop after being sprayed in order to avoid contact with the chemicals. He did this all of his own accord.

David tries so hard with everything he does in school, but in this particular area, he has excelled. He has surprised his teacher with his wealth of knowledge and his willingness to share ideas about farm safety.



Gearóid Ryan, Scoil Naomh Cualán, Tipperary - MUNSTER
Gearóid;s teacher says he is a marvellous student who has a great passion for agriculture. Living on a farm he has first hand experience of the importance of safety on the farm.
During completing module one Gearóid discussed he participated in feeding the calves and helping his Dad on the farm. He highlighted the hazards of chemicals used on the farm. He also discussed the importance of wearing safety goggles in particular when liming the cubicles and steel toecap boots or wellies should be worn at all times.
In terms of heights, slurry and machinery safety Gearoid informed his classmates how dangerous slurry fumes can be, never climb bales and always stand by the wall when heavy machinery is in operation. Gearoid is a worthy nominee for his passion for agriculture and his commitment to farm safety.