On Wednesday the 4th of May, the 5th year students of Nenagh College paid a visit to the Blackcastle Farm just outside of Thurles. The students that attended are each taking one or more of the following choice subjects; Agricultural Science, Home Economics and LCVP. For the Agricultural Science students, this trip was beneficial to them as it was an opportunity to have hands-on experience on a farm. This provided them with real-life examples of different cattle breeds and their maintenance as well as the grass types. They were informed about the herd of Piedmontese cattle and their special qualities. This breed of cow produces much healthier cuts of beef due to the high muscle mass compared to low fat quantity. The cows are reared by their mother until they are ten months old. This breed of cattle is kept indoors during the three coldest months of the year as they do not adjust well to the cold dampness. The cows’ coats are entirely white once reared but are brown as calves. As the farm is striving to be eco-friendly there is an abundance of biodiversity to be seen. This includes the uncut hedgerows of 10 years that are home to birds and other wildlife and an abundance of wildflowers due to the acre planted to help bees thrive but also the lack of pesticide use.
The students who study Home Economics got a preview of a Health and Safety approved system producing and packaging beef products. Each member of the team had an assigned job, each wore the appropriate PPE and had time management skills. This kept the system in place efficiently. They were shown the machinery that minced the beef and incased the sausages in a collagen wrap. They watched how the sausages were counted, placed in packaging, and labelled by hand. All cuts of meat were held in a walk-in fridge of 4 degrees Celsius. When the products were placed in boxes, they were placed with dry ice packets, this was in case the products stayed out of the appropriate temperature. The dry ice would ensure they were kept cold to prevent the growth of microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria. As there was also a kitchen and chef on duty, the Home Economics class benefited in the culinary aspect too. They got to witness technique as well as be introduced to new dishes.
The trip to Blackcastle Farm was an important experience for the LCVP students for their reports on organizing an outing. This gave a primary example for them to analyze and piece together the factors it took to organize. This includes the transportation by bus, the arranging of the venue, the scheduling of the trip and costs. The LCVP students got to view the processes of an up-and-coming local business. These students came prepared with questions to interview the hosts with and to understand their organization better.
This trip was beneficial all around and was a memorable and enjoyable outing.
