The first annual Herdwatch #Agventions competition in association with the Tullamore Show has drawn to a close. The competition has been a great success with 20 separate entries and over 2,000 votes online.
The entries were narrowed from 20 to a shortlist of 8 which was judged on Friday 4th of August by a panel of 4 judges. The judges' panel was made up of was made up of 2 members from the Tullamore Show, Rodney and Lesley Cox, a local dairy farmer, Padraig Madden and a member of the Herdwatch team, James Greevy.
The judges were blown away by the standard of the entries and spent over 3 hours deliberating the merits of each of the
The overall winner will receive a cash prize of €250 and is entered in the Tullamore show national inventions competition.
The two runners-up received a year's free Herdwatch membership and were also entered in the Tullamore Show National Inventions Competition.
And the winner is...
Tom Donlon: Feed Transport Box
Tom Donlon's Feed Transport Box is the first overall Agventions winner. Tom came up with the idea after getting injured on the farm last year, he needed a way to transport feed around the farm that did not
Tom will be exhibiting his Feed Transport Box at the inventions stand at the Tullamore show on Sunday 12th August.
The Runners up :
Michael Roche: Portable Cattle Pen
Michael Roches Portable Cattle Pen is a mobile cattle pen and crush that fits on the 3 point linkage of any tractor. Michael developed the idea because he has a number of
Michael will be exhibiting his Feed Transport Box at the inventions stand at the Tullamore show on Sunday 12th August.
Patrick Harney: Safety Box
Patrick Harneys' Safety Box was invented to solve a problem on his farm. He needed his Quad to round up cattle on a piece of land away from his farm but he did not want to drive it on the main roads. The safety box allows him to carry the quad on the front of the tractor and bring the cattle trailer on the back of the tractor, saving him multiple trips up and down the road. The Safety Box can also be
Patrick will be exhibiting his Feed Transport Box at the Inventions stand at the Tullamore Show on Sunday 12th August.
The shortlist
The judges were so impressed that the remaining 5 farmers who were shortlisted have also received a year's free Herdwatch subscription.
Patrick Coleman: Lime Spreader
Patrick modified an ordinary Lime spreader to take the heavy lifting out the job. It allows him to lime 100 cubicles in under 2 minutes.
Niall O'Callaghan: Herding Truck
Niall's Herding Truck can go between farms and has all the equipment and tools needed for general maintenance on a day to day basis, which includes a quad.
Gerry Mc Meel: Utility Cage
Gerry's Utility Cage is hitched to the front weight bracket of a Massey 550. Gerry uses mainly for a fencing. Its unladen weight is approx 20 kgs and it can be hitched on easily by one person and can be adapted to fit any tractor.
Finnian Mathe: Calf Feeder
Finnian Mathes Calf Feeder allows him to feed up to 30 calves at any one time without having to open a gate. It is invaluable to him as he rears so many calves.
Donal Mahers: Molasses Tank valve
Donal invented a valve for his molasses tank to allow him to quickly fill the bucket of his front loader without having to hop down off the tractor.
Meet the Herdwatch Team at the Tullamore show
The Herdwatch team will be on hand at the Tullamore show to answer any question that you may have about the Agventions competition or Herdwatch.
The team will be in Business Arcade C and on the Inventions stand.
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