Clare Farm Idea Awards Competition Expands

Business & Finance - Farming & Fisheries

Thursday, 14 October 2010 13:07

Written by Mike Fanning

This year’s Clare Farm Idea Awards competition will be launched by IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley on the 20th October in the Woodstock Hotel in Ennis starting at 2pm.

Within the framework of the Mid-West Business Week 2010 it is a free event for people from farming and fishing communities in Co. Clare with an idea for a new business. It will be followed by a presentation from Clare Local Development Company on the various supports available under the LEADER programme.

Information will also be available on sources of finance for new business ideas while a number of farmers who diversified into non-farming activities will be present to offer advice on new business ideas.

The competition is an initiative of Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) to promote entrepreneurship amongst farming and fishing communities across the county. It carries a prize fund of over €5,000 thanks to the support of a number of local businesses including Clean Ireland Recycling Ltd., Conor Engineering, Clare IFA, Happy Cow Milk Vending and The Renewable Energy and Eco Centre, imecofarm.

For the 2010 competition, the range of applicants has been broadened to three categories: “Last year we were approached by several interested persons with herd or fish numbers already in business and have therefore now allowed a category specifically for them. The second category will be exclusively for those herd and fish number holders who have no previous business experience” said Gerry McDonagh, Rural Development Officer with Clare Local Development Company. He continued: “In addition, we aim to inspire the younger generation and their interest in modern farming to come up with new ideas for a business, so we are inviting each of the second level schools in Co. Clare to submit an entry to represent their school in the competition.”

While there is no requirement that the business idea gets up and running, supports will be made available to those entrants who wish to take their idea further. Depending on the number of applications, there will be awards for the best tourism, food, energy, engineering and services ideas.

Information evenings will take place during October in the Teagasc offices of Ennistymon on the 26th, Kilrush on the 27th, Scarriff on the 28th, and Ennis on the 1st November, all commencing at 8pm. A number of Clare farmers who started their own businesses will be in attendance at these open evenings to share their experiences to date as entrepreneurs. The closing date for applications will be 5pm on 15th November.

This year’s judging panel includes representatives from CLDC and the sponsors of the competition. Teagasc Rural Business Specialist and co-presenter of RTE’s Rural Enterprise programme, Higher Ground, Paul McCarthy has also been invited back again this year. 

The competition winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in the Woodstock Hotel, Ennis on 6th December at 2pm and their competition entries will go forward automatically to the National JFC Rural Innovation Awards competition.

In 2009, the top prize of €3,000 in the Farm Idea Awards competition (sponsored by Clean Ireland Recycling Ltd.) was won by Roger Fahy of New Quay who submitted an idea to sell milk through vending machines. Roger qualified automatically for the JFC competition and was a joint winner in the Food category. The competition generated interest both locally and nationally. In fact a West Clare Company, Happy Cow Milk Vending recently featured on the Higher Ground programme.

Further information, including application forms may be obtained at the individual information evenings or from Hilary Gleeson 086-8235598, Gerry McDonagh 086-8544036 and Mary O’Sullivan 065-6866800.