Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is taking place on Friday 14 June (schools day), Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June 2024. Participating farms will be released soon! For more information, email Lynsay Hawkes (lhawkes@ufuhq.com).

As well as inviting schools to participating farms, they also run an annual schools competition offering some amazing prizes – see the competition page for more information. https://openfarmweekend.com/schools-programme/competitions/

What is the competition?

This year’s school’s competition theme, ‘supporting local produce in Northern Ireland’ provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to start the discussion about the importance of supporting local food production and our unique family farm structure in NI. The competition will raise awareness amongst pupils on the origin of food and the all-important role that farming families play in society, producing food to feed a growing population, caring for the countryside, providing employment, supporting rural communities and the economy.

The competition is split into five sections:

• Foundation level (Nursery, pre-school and playgroups): “Supporting local produce in NI.” Pupils should decorate the picture of the pupil “Supporting local produce in NI.” (One template) Download the female template by clicking here or male template by clicking here.
• Foundation (Primary 1 and Primary 2): “Supporting local produce in NI.” Pupils should decorate the picture of “Supporting local produce in NI.” Pupils should also fill in the harvesting process. Download the template by clicking here.
• Key stage 1 (Primary 3 and Primary 4): Design a one course meal using local homegrown produce. Pupils should incorporate a short description of how you can make the dish. Download the template by clicking here.
• Key stage 2 (Primary 5, Primary 6 and Primary 7): Create a logo to support local produce that would be displayed on packaging. Pupils should include a slogan to accompany the logo highlighting why you should purchase local produce. Download the template by clicking here.
• Special schools: Can enter any section of the competition.

Prizes sponsored by Asda include:

• £200 for the winning school in each section plus transport for a class to nearest participating open farm.
• £40 for the winning pupil in each section.
• £100 for the runner-up school in each section plus a Bramley apple tree.
• £20 for the runner-up pupil in each section.
• Planting set for third place pupil in each section.
• Highly commended certificates.

The closing date for entries is Friday 29 March 2024. 

Send entries to:

BOIOFW schools’ competition
Ulster Farmers’ Union,
475 Antrim Road,
Belfast,
BT15 3DA

(Please ensure correct postage payment is made to ensure delivery of entries).

For more information contact Lynsay Hawkes at UFU HQ (028) 9037 0222 or lhawkes@ufuhq.com