Nineteen Fermanagh farmers received funding under the Family Farm Development Ltd. farmers' diversification programme. One of these was Damien O'Keefe, OK Boat Hire and Little Crom Holiday Cottages in Newtownbutler who spoke at the showcase event at Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co. Cavan last week. Damien outlined the diversification of their business from a 60 head suckler herd into the unlikely combination of turkey fattening and self catering holiday cottages. Originally intending to try just one of these projects, they ended up doing both and developing the holiday cottages into a boat hire business as well. The O'Keefe's received invaluable support from both FFD and CAFRE and found the networking events particularly useful for their business development. They are members of the Clones/Erne East Partnership, Breiffne and Greenbox ecotourism organisation which helped them to achieve the EU Flower Ecotourism award.
The others were Gary McCaffrey, Advertising on the Move, Derrylea, Derrylin; Donald Johnston, Ashwoods Fire Logs, Sligo Road, Ennniskillen; Trevor Armstrong, Genealogy Images, Lenaghran, Letterbreen; Stephen Dunlop, Tullylawns Landscaping, Dromsonis, Ballinamallard; John & Basil Fawcett, Castle Brae Cottages, Church Hill, Enniskillen; Elizabeth & Anna Keys, KitaKards (handmade greeting cards), Glenarm, Lack; Ciaran McBride, Tyre & Wheel Alignment, Gortnacarrow, Newtownbutler; John Vance, Vance Graveyard Services, Millview, Kesh; William Frazer, Garden Canopies, Gardrum, Letterbreen; Eamon Kelly, Natural Spring Water, Garvary, Enniskillen; Gertrude Graham, Graham Coach Tours, Drumsowna, Ederney; Patrick Jones, Eco Activity Hire, Enniskillen, Vincent McGovern, Wool Press Packing, Mullen, Kinawley; Gordon & Barbara Buchanan, Boho Road, Enniskillen; Jayne Paget, Baskets of Ireland (speciality food hampers), Derryhillagh, Enniskillen; Georgina Meade, Cloud 9 (function decoration), Ferney, Trillick; James Hogg, Production of Elite Sport Horses, Long Acre, Maguiresbridge and Thomas, Damien & Ciara McManus, Callagheen House (farmhouse accommmodation) Roscor, Belleek.
Family Farm Development Ltd. marked the conclusion of their very successful farmers' diversification programme with a showcase event and booklet launch in Ballyhaise Agricultural College last week. The Young Farmers' Cross Border Diversification and Networking Programme has funded 117 projects within its three year lifetime. The programme operates in twelve counties on both sides of the border - Fermanagh, Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Leitrim, Louth, Magherafelt, Monaghan, Sligo and Tyrone. The total budget for the Programme amounted to ¤2.8 million euros.
The Showcase was a gala event featuring fifteen of the 117 projects, two of which gave excellent presentations enthusing over the support, training and networking opportunities they had received through the programme.
The Young Farmers' Cross Border Diversification and Networking Programme is one of those very unique programmes which accurately targets exactly the people it is intended to support. It was responsible for launching 81 new businesses and supporting the development of a further 36 existing businesses. Networking was a key element of the programme as was individual mentoring which proved an invaluable asset for participants. Every imaginable type of business is represented in the booklet ranging from field archery to free flying birds of prey, and from cheese making to grave maintenance.
Speaking at the showcase event Mr Brendan Smith, TD, Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture and Food complimented the different agencies for working together seamlessly for the benefit of the whole island and said the numbers achieved were "outstanding by any measurement". He said, "The people profiled in the booklet now serve as role models for those aspiring to diversify. Learning to believe in ourselves is vital, but this must be supported by training and upskilling as has happened here. Let this be the beginning of a strong entrepreneurial culture in the counties we care so much about".
Mr Hugh John Patton of Castle Free Range Eggs, Wardstown, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal shared his unique business building experience. The Pattons were farmers who kept a small flock of hens and occasionally found a market for the surplus eggs. They saw a niche for free range eggs which encouraged them to increase flock size. Hugh John came in contact with FFD through an ad in a local paper and is loud in his praise for the assistance he has received. The programme helped him to mechanise his egg grading operation by buying a labour saving and quality improving egg grader making the operation more competitive and efficient. He also mentioned the importance of the networking events which he has found vital for business development.
Mrs Pauline Keegan, Director of Rural Development with DARD was fulsome in her praise of the programme saying, "Your success is largely down to the partnership approach adopted. Your organisation itself is a example of the bringing together of key farming and rural development organisations and it worked effectively with others in project delivery. Your Steering Committee for the Cross Border project comprised representatives from both North and South, it is an excellent example of cooperation and working together for the common good. In designing and delivering your project you have made it additional by fully utilising existing services provided by government, namely the training services provided by DARD and TEASASC".
