Young Mayo farmer to represent county at sheep farmer forum

A young Mayo farmer has been selected to represent the county at the inaugural Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum.

Darren McGuire, from Westport, will be amongst the attendees at the landmark event, which aims to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of young sheep farmers to lead the way in a sustainable and innovative manner.

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Last year, the average age of sheep farmers nationwide was revealed to be 56 in a survey from Teagasc.

The Young Sheep Farmer Forum aims to challenge and change that narrative.

Darren is a final-year student at Mountbellew Agricultural College and is actively involved in his 250-strong farm.

The event has been backed by Martin Heydon, the Minister for Agriculture, who was present at Damien Flynn’s farm in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, for the launch of the Kepak-backed event.

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As part of the programme, the young farmers will be hands-on with on-farm workshops and site visits.

They will also get to engage directly with Bord Bía and Kepak, as well as a visit to Paris, where they will go to France’s largest wholesale market, Rungis.

Lastly, the group will come up with a set of practical policy recommendations, which will be sent to the Department of Agriculture ahead of Budget 2026.

Minister Heydon expressed his approval of the initiative.

“The future of Irish sheep farming depends on our ability to inspire and support the next generation,” he stated. “Kepak’s Young Sheep Farmer Forum is a strong step in that direction. It’s encouraging to see industry leaders investing in young talent, fostering innovation, and creating real opportunities for engagement and leadership within the sector.”