The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), proud sponsor of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend 2026, is inviting the public to enjoy a taste of excellence by sampling Farm Quality Assured Beef and Lamb during their farm visits.
Running from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, this much-anticipated weekend offers schools and the public the chance to step onto local farms, meet the people behind Northern Ireland’s food, and discover the vital role agriculture plays in daily life. Friday 12 June will be an exclusive school day for pre-booked groups, with farms open to the wider public on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.
LMC will host live cookery demonstrations on selected farms across Saturday and Sunday. LMC chefs will prepare simple, delicious recipes using the highest quality Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb, giving visitors the chance to taste the difference of locally produced meat and discover how it can be enjoyed at home. LMC is proud to be using food which is produced using the highest welfare and quality standards.
Colin Smith, LMC Chief Executive, pictured at Glenside Farm near Comber, a community working farm and home to the award winning, Farm Quality Assured Glen-Cowie Pedigrees highlighted the importance of the event:
“LMC is delighted to once again sponsor and be actively involved in Open Farm Weekend, an event that has become a much-anticipated highlight in the annual agri calendar. It provides a valuable opportunity to showcase the positive farm to fork journey of Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) beef and lamb. Throughout the weekend, LMC will provide cookery demonstrators at selected locations, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the exceptional quality of care that goes into the production NIFQA beef and lamb. Our farmers uphold world-leading standards for animal health, welfare and care for the environment. They work tirelessly to produce the highest quality red meat for consumers to enjoy. I would really encourage the public to attend Open Farm Weekend, it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about where our food comes from and how it is produced, plus there’s some tasty beef and lamb dishes to sample too!”
John McLenaghan, Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the organisation behind the initiative added: “Open Farm Weekend shines a spotlight on the people and produce at the heart of our agri-food industry. LMC’s longstanding support has helped us highlight the exceptional quality of Northern Ireland’s Farm Quality Assured beef and lamb in a way that’s interactive and accessible. We’re excited to see families experience that first-hand again in 2026.”
Farms taking part in Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend will welcome schools on Friday 12 June and are open to the public on Saturday 13 June and Sunday 14 June.
Pictured in the launch photo at Glenside Working Farm, Comber from left is; Malini Colville from Glenside Farm, William Irvine, President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union and Colin Smith, CEO of Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland.
