"Aileen Sheehan said "Behind every good man is a great woman, and that's true, but we shouldn't be behind. It's time for women in the agriculture sector to step forward." Milking 140 dairy cows on a 100pc leased farm, she is the first female winner in the competition's 27-year history. She began her farming journey in December 2021 after leasing a dairy unit in Whitechurch, purchasing a herd, and commencing milk supply."
"Alongside her career as a PE and Maths teacher, Aileen runs the enterprise with her husband, who serves in the army. The couple are also parents to a six-month-old baby. The farm has three part-time staff, Sarah, Aoife, and Tadgh, and has a strong focus on sustainability, winning the Dairygold Milk Quality and Sustainability Award in 2024. This year's awards took place on September 9 at the Killashee Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare."
"Isaac Wheelock, from Wexford, was the winner in the other enterprises category, and he was also the runner up in the competition. Josephine O'Neill, Macra National President, said Aileen demonstrated her passion for and dedication to agriculture, the environment, and her local community. "Aileen is following in the footsteps of many trailblazers in agriculture and will no doubt represent the title with pride and integrity. Congratulations also to all finalists on representing themselves so well.""
Aileen Sheehan milks 140 dairy cows on a fully leased farm and became the competition's first female winner in its 27-year history. She began farming in December 2021 after leasing a dairy unit in Whitechurch, purchasing a herd, and starting milk supply. She runs the enterprise while working as a PE and Maths teacher, with support from her husband, who serves in the army, and three part-time staff. The couple have a six-month-old baby. The farm prioritises sustainability, winning the Dairygold Milk Quality and Sustainability Award 2024, and Aileen also won dairy and biodiversity awards at the September 9 ceremony.
Read at Irish Independent
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