Marie McFadden wins IFJ heifer competition

It is a common believe that a good stock person’s eye is inherited and not taught. This theory certainly applies to young Marie McFadden who is the third generation of the Armstrong/McFadden family to be active in the livestock industry.

Therefore, when the Irish Farmers Journal advertised its annual heifer competition, Marie was quick to enter, completing the necessary essay questionnaire. It was testimony to her hard work and obvious talents when she qualified for the finals of the competition. This was a huge achievement as only 18 youngsters from in excess of 1000 entrants qualified. The finals of the competition were held at the National Ploughing Competition where the 18 finalists were to undertake nine five minute interviews. And as if this was not daunting enough all interviews were completed on stage in-front of thousands of spectators. However all contestants were spurred by the same goal, winning one of the eight heifers which had been donated by their respective breed societies. These heifers included a Blonde d’Aquitaine cross, a Charolais cross, a Hereford cross, an Aberdeen-Angus cross, a Irish Angus cross, a Limousin cross, a Parthenaise cross, and a Simmental cross all of which were quality heifers who someday will make fantastic suckler cows.

On the morning of the finals unlike other contestants Marie had a day’s work completed. She had cleaned out, bedded and groomed her family’s Aberdeen-Angus cattle which were proudly exhibited on the Aberdeen-Angus Association stand. Having completed her tasks Marie left the tent for the interview process, her normal quiet self, confident in her ability to answer any question that was thrown at her. This was not missed placed confidence as having completed the interview process, it was announced that Marie was one of the successful finalists having scored extremely highly in the interview process.  With only a moment to celebrate her success Marie’s next task was to complete a lucky dip to see which heifer she won. Her luck was not to abandon her even at this stage as she successfully pulled the ticket for one of the Angus cross heifers from the hat.

An over joyed Marie returned to her duties on the Aberdeen-Angus tent soon after her win however like any good stock person Marie had already cast her expert eye over her newly won heifer identifying her strengths and weaknesses and following consultation with her mother, Angie, and father, Owen, a bull was chosen to put on her heifer. This is however, a decision to this day which has remained top secret, the only details Marie is willing to disclose is that her heifer will be AI’d in December and that the subsequent calf will be ready to compete as part of the Armstrong show team in 2011.