Macra na Feirme

What Macra na Feirme does

Macra na Feirme is a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered Irish charity (CHY 5725, CRA 20009021, founded 1944) that serves as the nationwide membership organization for rural youth and young farmers aged 17-40 in Ireland. It operates through a hierarchical network of 170 local clubs organized at county and regional levels, supported by Training and Development Officers and a small national staff based at the Irish Farm Centre in Bluebell, Dublin 12. The organization advocates for members on agricultural policy (CAP reform, nitrates derogation, generational renewal, rural planning) and rural youth issues (housing, broadband, services), represents Ireland within CEJA at the EU level, and delivers a year-round programme of competitions, festivals, and leadership events.

Core products span the FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition (running since 1999 with €5,000 top prize), Macra Agricultural Skillnet training courses delivered via Teachable, the Land Mobility Service for farm succession, the Make the Moove mental health programme, the GrassRoots sustainability ambassador programme, the Macra Job Noticeboard, and an extensive competition portfolio (sports, drama, debating, stockjudging, farm skills). Underlying technology is minimal and operational rather than differentiating: a Shopify-based e-commerce site, Teachable-hosted video training, JotForm-based form collection, email newsletters, and standard social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube). There is no proprietary platform, no mobile app, no API, and no AI/ML components.

The business model blends individual annual membership subscriptions, government grant funding (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Youth Affairs; Skillnet Ireland), corporate sponsorship revenue (FBD Insurance, IFA, Bord Bia, Ornua, Kerrygold, Irish Farmers Journal), affinity partner referral/commission income (FBD, Three Mobile, Circle K), and training course fees (€25 non-member Skillnet rate). Macra is a non-profit charity and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Macra na Feirme

Legal name

Macra na Feirme

Website

https://macra.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Macra na Feirme is an 80-year-old Irish membership charity serving rural youth and young farmers aged 17-40 through 170 clubs, delivering competitions, training, advocacy, and affinity member benefits funded by subscriptions, government grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Youth Organization / Rural Development Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Rural youth membership
• Agricultural training programs
• Farm succession services
• Young farmer competitions
• Voluntary advocacy organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Primary revenue stream from annual membership fees. The organization is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered charity (CHY 5725, CRA 20009021).
2. Government Grants and Funding: Funding support from government bodies including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Youth Affairs. Macra Agricultural Skillnet receives funding through Skillnet Ireland.
3. Sponsorship and Partner Revenue: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners including FBD Insurance, Three mobile network, Circle K fuel, Irish Farmers Journal, and various agricultural brands (Kerrygold, Ornua, Bord Bia).
4. Training and Skillnet Services: Macra Agricultural Skillnet provides training courses to members and non-members, generating revenue through course fees. Members receive discounted rates (€25 non-member rate for skillnet bookings).
5. Affinity Partner Commissions: Revenue from affinity partnerships including FBD insurance discounts (15% for young drivers), Three mobile plans, and Circle K fuel card programs where Macra receives referral/affiliate benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Macra na Feirme is a membership-based voluntary organization serving young farmers and rural youth aged 17-40 across Ireland through 170 local clubs. It provides personal development, agricultural training, competitions, advocacy, and member benefits including discounts on insurance, mobile, and fuel.

Product overview

Macra na Feirme is a rural youth organization offering a portfolio of membership-based products and services centered around personal development, agricultural education, competitive events, and member benefits. The core offerings include Macra Agricultural Skillnet (training courses), Land Mobility Service (succession planning), and the annual FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition. Additional products include an extensive competitions portfolio (sports, debating, drama, stockjudging, farm skills), the Macra Job Noticeboard, Leadership Awards, Volunteer Awards, Festivals, and Make the Moove mental health program. Members access exclusive benefits including insurance discounts, mobile/broadband offers, and fuel cards through commercial partnerships. The GrassRoots Programme supports sustainable farming ambassadors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Macra Agricultural Skillnet: Training and skillnet division providing agricultural training courses and development opportunities for members
• Make the Moove
• Land Mobility Service
• FBD Young Farmer of the Year

Products and services

• FBD Young Farmer of the Year Competition Annual national competition recognizing young farmers' achievements across multiple categories including Dairy, Drystock, Career Farm Management, Land Mobility, and Other Enterprises. Sponsored by FBD Insurance, run in partnership with IFA and Macra Agricultural Skillnet since 1999.
• Macra Agricultural Skillnet Training and development program offering courses for Macra members on topics including leadership skills, officer roles, agricultural techniques, and professional development. Delivered through online video platform (Teachable) and in-person training events. Funded through Skillnet Ireland.
• Land Mobility Service Facilitator service supporting succession planning, collaborative farming arrangements, and family opportunities for land transfer to younger generations. Provides unrestricted access to facilitators for members seeking land mobility solutions.
• Macra Job Noticeboard Employment listing platform advertising agricultural and rural positions available to Macra Associate Members and Sponsors. Managed by the Macra Communications Executive.
• Macra National Leadership Awards Annual leadership development competition recognizing outstanding Macra members for their leadership contributions. Applications open annually with banquet dinner ceremony held during National Training Day.
• Macra Membership Benefits Program Comprehensive membership package offering exclusive benefits including FBD Car Insurance discount (15%), Three Mobile SIM and broadband discounts, Circle K fuel card (3 cent per litre off), Macra Agricultural Skillnet course access, Land Mobility Service access, and partner discounts from IFAC, FOBO Design, Ballybar Ireland, and Rabbitt Tractors.
• Make the Moove Mental Health Program Mental health awareness and education program developed within Macra designed to provide education and raise awareness around mental health in rural communities. Includes training course development and national support network establishment.
• GrassRoots Programme Young farmer ambassador program creating 10 ambassadors farming sustainably, focusing on reducing emissions, protecting water quality, and improving biodiversity while maintaining profitable enterprises.
• Macra Festivals and Events Annual festival events bringing together Macra members from across Ireland for competitions, celebrations, and social gatherings. Includes Rally events and festival celebrations.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FBD InsuranceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFBD Insurance is the primary sponsor of the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, Macra's flagship annual competition since 1999. Partnership includes prize sponsorship (€5,000 overall winner, €1,000 category winners), FBD Hotel Group vouchers, and FBD Insurance vouchers. FBD Trust also supports through the Michael Berkery FBD Trust. Additionally, FBD provides a 15% car insurance affinity discount exclusively for Macra members aged 17-35.
• Three (Mobile Network)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThree Ireland provides exclusive mobile SIM-only plans to Macra members at €17.50/month for 12 months, along with affinity mobile and broadband offers. Macra members receive discounted rates on Three services, with the partnership generating affiliate benefits for Macra.
• Circle KcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCircle K provides Macra members with a free fuel card offering 3 cent per litre discount on Diesel and Unleaded fuel at Circle K stations in the Republic of Ireland. Additional benefits include up to 30% savings on car washes at company-owned locations.
• Irish Farmers Association (IFA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA partners with Macra in running the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards. IFA President Francie Gorman participates in competition launches, and the partnership provides legitimacy and industry recognition to the competition while strengthening agricultural advocacy efforts.
• Bord BiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBord Bia sponsors the Bord Bia Beef & Sheep Stock Judging competition, helping young farmers develop livestock assessment skills and knowledge of developments in stockbreeding, husbandry and disease control.
• OrnuacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrnua sponsors the Dairy Stock Judging Competition, supporting skill development in livestock assessment and preparation for buying and selling farm animals.
• KerrygoldcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKerrygold sponsors the Kerrygold Club Question Time competition, encouraging members to improve general knowledge across current affairs, sport, film, television, and popular music.
• Irish Farmers JournalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIrish Farmers Journal sponsors the IFJ 'Know Your Agriculture' Table Quiz, promoting agricultural knowledge and keeping members informed on current topics in farming news.
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the MarineflagshipOthersGovernment department providing core funding support to Macra na Feirme. The department logo appears on Macra's website footer alongside other institutional partners, indicating ongoing financial and policy support relationship.
• Department of Youth AffairscoreOthersGovernment department providing funding support to Macra as a youth organization. Logo appears in website footer alongside Department of Agriculture.
• Macra Agricultural SkillnetflagshipOthersMacra Skillnet is a subsidiary entity delivering training and development courses to Macra members and external participants. Funded through Skillnet Ireland, it provides courses on agricultural skills, officer roles, and compliance topics.
• CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEJA is the European-level organization representing young farmers at EU level. Macra President John Keane served in CEJA work, and Macra engages with European policy through this membership, contributing to CAP reform discussions and generational renewal initiatives.
• Land Mobility ServicecoreOthersThe Land Mobility Service provides succession planning and family farm transfer support to Macra members. Operated by Macra, it facilitates collaborative farming arrangements, shared milking, contract rearing, and land transfer to younger farmers.
• Healthy IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health initiative partnership indicated by logo presence on Macra website, suggesting collaboration on rural health and wellness initiatives.
• TeagasccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeagasc is Ireland's agricultural and food development authority. Macra engages with Teagasc on student placement programs, knowledge transfer initiatives, and agricultural education policy submissions.
• IFACminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIFAC provides accounting and financial services to Macra members with a €300 year-one discount when total fee exceeds €600.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC): NFYFC is the England and Wales umbrella body for county young farmers' clubs, offering competitions, training, travel, and advocacy for 10-28 year olds. It is the largest functional peer by membership scale and operates an almost identical federation-of-clubs model.
• Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU): YFCU is the Northern Ireland equivalent of Macra na Feirme, running a federation of young farmers' clubs with similar competitions, training, advocacy, and rural youth focus for 12-30 year olds. It is the closest geographic and structural peer.

Broad incumbents

• Teagasc: Teagasc is Ireland's Agriculture and Food Development Authority, providing agricultural research, training, and advisory services. It is a close partner of Macra (student placements, knowledge transfer) and a broader incumbent in the same agricultural training and education space.
• Irish Farmers Association (IFA): IFA is Ireland's principal farming representative body across all ages. It co-runs the FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards with Macra and overlaps in agricultural advocacy, making it both a partner and a broader incumbent serving a wider farmer demographic.
• CEJA (European Council of Young Farmers): CEJA is the Brussels-based European umbrella for national young farmer organizations including Macra itself. It operates at the EU policy layer rather than running clubs, making it an incumbent peer at the supranational level for advocacy and CAP engagement.

Others

• Rural Youth Europe: Rural Youth Europe is the European federation of rural youth organizations that Macra engages with for international seminars and exchanges. It is an adjacent peer in the rural-youth space but does not directly compete and operates at network level.
• National Rural Network (NRN): The National Rural Network coordinates rural development activity in Ireland under the LEADER programme, intersecting with Macra on rural youth, planning, and broadband issues. It is an adjacent enabling organization rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC): SAYFC is the Scottish national federation of young farmers' clubs, serving members up to 30 with competitions, training, travel, and advocacy. It mirrors Macra's club, competition, and personal development model within a different UK jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MacranaFeirme
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjJf4VGf3kl9c7kfNZTpVrg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Broomfield-Macra-na-Feirme-100067473857304
• Instagraminstagram.com/macranafeirme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macra-na-feirme

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Macra na Feirme