Fane Valley Partner With Local School.

Fane Valley is excited to commence a three-year partnership with Markethill Primary School, offering expert agriculture awareness and good practice farming techniques plus mentorship for pupils as part of a STEM project.

Trevor Lockhart – Fane Valley, Group Chief Executive commented, “We have great relationships with many schools across the province and when possible, try to assist and support key projects to promote and highlight agriculture and agri-food. We are excited to be able to partner with Markethill Primary School on their STEM project and to help them source a new polytunnel through The Royal Society for a range of curriculum specific planting and growing purposes associated with STEM. Fane Valley will additionally provide guidance and direction to pupils plus industry insights into scientific sampling and testing to help achieve positives results with plants and crops.”

Dr Helen McLernon – Principal of Markethill Primary School said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Fane Valley for our STEM project. Markethill Primary School was successful in securing funding for a polytunnel, an important element in our STEM project, from The Royal Society.  A significant factor in securing this funding was the support that Fane Valley would be offering the school.  Working in partnership with Fane Valley will enable the children and staff to gain expert knowledge from leading agronomy and agricultural staff visiting the school, the opportunity to discuss results of tests carried out and consider how best our school can maintain and further develop a self-sufficient garden area consisting of vegetables, flowers and plants.

Dr McLernon concluded, “Markethill Primary School is part of a thriving farming community and we believe our work with Fane Valley will help to sustain this rich agricultural heritage for future generations.”