News Archives
Co Down student wins inaugural Linden Foods/Marks and Spencer Award
6th February 2012
Frank Foster from Linden Foods awards the Linden Foods/Marks and Spencer Award bursary to Stuart Cromie, Banbridge
Linden Foods and Marks and Spencer are delighted to have made its inaugural bursary presentation to CAFRE student Stuart Cromie. Stuart is from Banbridge, Co. Down and is a first year student on the Foundation Degree in Agriculture and Rural Studies course at Greenmount Campus. The presentation follows a competition which was open to first year full-time Greenmount Higher Education students. Stuart was delighted to receive a cheque for £1,000. He said: “I’m really grateful to Linden Foods and Marks and Spencer for giving me this flying start to my higher education studies. I live at home and will use the bursary to help with the travelling expenses to Greenmount.”
Linden Foods and Marks and Spencer had set students the challenge of completing a report entitled, “How would you manage a 200 acre beef and sheep farm to optimise agricultural and environmental sustainability?”
At the presentation of the bursary, Frank Foster from Linden Foods commented: “All the student entries were of a high standard, and Stuart’s report provided an overview of the opportunities and challenges when managing a mixed beef and sheep farm to optimise farm sustainability. Stuart was able to use his experiences and knowledge gained from his home beef and sheep farm.”
Stuart, a past pupil of Banbridge Academy, takes a special interest in the management of the family’s pedigree Charollais sheep flock. He is also an active member of Annaclone Young Farmers’ Club and in March 2011, won the coveted Under 21 Ulster Young Farmer of the Year Award.