A total of 26 young farmer suppliers from Lakeland Dairies have completed the co-operative’s inaugural Young Farmer Programme, supported by ICOS Skillnet. 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 co-operative while giving them the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to play an active role in its future.

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. 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.”

Lakeland Dairies is one of Ireland’s leading co-operatives, with 3,200 suppliers producing two billion litres of high-quality milk annually. This milk is used to manufacture more than 240 products, which are enjoyed in over 100 international markets.

Bursaries

Meanwhile, Lakeland Dairies has awarded bursaries to six outstanding students as part of the second year of its academic support initiative. The programme is aimed at supporting family members of farmer suppliers and co-operative staff who are pursuing third-level degrees in agriculture, dairy science or food science, engineering, sustainability, supply chain and other relevant fields.

This year’s recipients are:

•            Conor McEneaney from county Monaghan, studying Ag Science at UCD.

•            Eoin Robinson from county Westmeath, studying Ag Science at UCD.

•            Roisin McCahill from county Cavan, studying Ag Science at UCD

•            Amy Flanagan from county Armagh, studying Applied Animal Science in Edinburgh

•            Leah Montgomery from county Derry/Londonderry, studying Food Innovation and Nutrition at Loughry.

•            Lois Mc Curdy from Ballycastle county Antrim, studying Engineering at Ulster University.

Congratulating the recipients, Liz Shouldice, Chief People Officer at Lakeland Dairies, said, “These awards celebrate and recognise the depth of talent across our co-op from farm families to staff families. The bursary programme is more than financial support, it’s about identifying and encouraging the next generation of innovators, scientists, and sustainability leaders in agriculture. It also provides recipients with an opportunity to learn more about Lakeland Dairies and the wide range of career paths available within our organisation. This initiative is a key part of our Pathway to a Better Future strategy and reflects our commitment to investing in the future of the agri-food sector.”

Each award recipient received €2,000/£2,000 to support them in undertaking their chosen academic programme.