Poots celebrates centenary bursaries at CAFRE

March 25, 2022

CAFRE students have been awarded four new bursaries to mark Northern Ireland’s Centenary year. DAERA Minister Edwin Poots presented the special centenary bursaries to CAFRE students Hannah Jordan and Caleb Orr at a bursary presentation event joined by CAFRE Director Martin McKendry.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots said “In recognition of the relationship between health, well-being, food, agriculture, nature and our environment I asked students to submit a short essay of 1,000 words explaining how innovation in their chosen discipline has made a difference to the health of people here.”

Four special centenary bursaries worth £1,000 each were handed out by Minister Poots to Further Education and Higher Education CAFRE students.

He said: “I am delighted to present these centenary bursary awards to students from all four disciplines at CAFRE – agriculture, food, horticulture and equine. The winners of the Centenary Awards were:

• Caleb Orr, a Level 3 student from Ballymena who is studying an Advanced Extended Diploma in Agriculture.
• Manon Varenne, from Lyon, France who is a BSc (Hons) Equine Management student.
• Portadown student Hannah Jordan who is studying BSc (Hons) Food Business Management.
• Richard Murray from Lisburn who is studying a Foundation Degree in Horticulture.

Speaking at the special ceremony he said: “Our local agri-food industry is a significant employer and contributor to the economy so it is vital we continue to supply it with professionally qualified and highly motivated new entrants. Which is exactly what CAFRE does.”

Minister Poots, himself a former CAFRE student added: “ I was very impressed with their work which was of an extremely high standard. These four awards are to recognise the fact that, for more than 100 years, CAFRE has played an important role in educating people who have become leaders and decision-makers in the agri-food and land-based sectors.”