Tom and Michelle were among the 180 Iowa Farmers who participated in the 2026 President’s Incentive Trip to Ireland June 13-19. Highlights of the trip included on-site visits to sheep and dairy farms, potato farms, and lobster harvesting.

While the farms are much smaller in Ireland than in the US, the issues they face regarding environmental regulations, small profit margins, and consumer preferences are perhaps even more rigorous than here at home.

The first part of the week was spent in the south-western part of Ireland near Killarney. Here the group visited an 80-acre dairy farm. The climate and terrain in Ireland are not conducive to row crops that we are familiar with, so cattle are on a grass-fed diet. This farm emphasized value-added by converting all their milk to butter or cheese, with much of it for export. The next day, our tour included travel on a lobster boat. The owners provided background on lobster harvesting and explained their own farming operation.

After the visit to Killarney, we boarded a vintage train for a 3-hour ride to Dublin, the capital of Ireland. There we toured Country Crest Farm. This farm produced potatoes and added value options to the potatoes for direct sale to a supermarket chain. Optional value-added features included cleaning and bagging potatoes packaged for display in supermarkets. The farm added capability to prepare and package onions, carrots, and other vegetables in ready-to-heat packages.

While in Dublin, some open time was provided to explore shopping, restaurants, and theater on our own. The trip participants were also treated to a special dinner in the cathedral. This trip is awarded to County Presidents who play an active role in helping their county achieve the top honors of the County Award of Excellence through the Iowa Farm Bureau.