22 July 2009

Over 800 Year 11 pupils, from schools throughout Northern Ireland visited CAFRE’S Loughry Campus, Cookstown, to ‘feed their minds’ as part of an innovative approach to supporting students studying Home Economics and Science and develop their interest in food.

The ‘Feed Your Mind’ event was a new initiative for Loughry aimed at Year 11 pupils studying GCSE Home Economics and Science. The one day fun filled event utilised the extensive practical facilities, which are unique to Loughry, to provide the students with an interesting and informative look at the use of science and technology in the Food Industry. The programme took the pupils through several demonstrations, including new product development, ice-cream manufacture, microbiology analysis, nutrition awareness and packaging, which illustrated how various scientific techniques, technologies and consumer issues have a major impact on the food we eat. The event proved so popular with schools that a second date was added to the agenda to accommodate the level of interested, with over 800 pupils and teachers attending the event.

The event was also an excellent opportunity for the pupils to hear about careers in the food industry and how courses at Loughry could provide them with further study in an exciting and rewarding area. The food industry is one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland and offers a wide range of career opportunities at various levels, with graduates starting salaries of up to £22,000, which certainly gave the pupils food for thought!  

For further information about the courses at Loughry Campus freephone 0800 0284291 or why not come along to our Open Day on 27 August between 3pm and 8pm and get a taste of campus life.

Sandra Witherspoon

Loughry Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

Using their loaf at the Year 11 ‘Feed Your Mind’ event are students Stuart McCullagh from Oakgrove Integrated College, Londonderry and Demi McCauley, Brownlow Integrated College Craigavon with James Devlin, Loughry Campus.

Cullybackey High School Year 11 students Lauren Millar, Taylor Davidson and Mandy Holmes discover what’s in a packet with Dominic Gallagher, Loughry Campus.

Donna Lyons tickles the taste buds of Year 11 students Ceri McNally, Aine McGuckin and Caoimhe McGilloway from St Catherine’s College, Armagh during the Loughry Campus ‘Feed Your Mind’ event.

Year 11 students, Gerard Donnelly from St Coleman’s Newry and Sarah Dooey from St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon sample the delights of the ‘Feed Your Mind’ event at Loughry Campus with Paddy Kelly.

Year 11 students Claire Quinn and Niamh Hamill from St Catherine’s College, Armagh, check out what’s in a label with Roisin Lagan at the ‘Feed Your Mind’ event at Loughry Campus.

Lyndon Beattie with Year 11 students Hannah Hamilton and Rebecca Rankin from Dalriada School, Ballymoney are in chocolate heaven during the ‘Feed Your Mind’ event at Loughry Campus.

Year 11 Loreto Grammar School, Omagh students Hannah McGirr and Roisin McCrystall with Shirley Malcomson check out the importance of acids in foods during the Loughry Campus ‘Feed Your Mind’ event.

Aideen Hagan, Year 11 student, from St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon, search for evidence of tiny bacteria with Edmund Slaine at the Loughry Campus ‘Feed Your Mind’ event.

“No bugs here” as Frances Bateson and Nichola Devlin, Year 11 student, from St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon, check for bacteria during the ‘Feed Your Mind’ event at Loughry Campus.

Peter Simpson proves an inspiration to the Year 11 students as he “opens their minds” to a career in the food industry during the Loughry Campus ‘Feed Your Mind’ event.