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ELIGIBLE BACHELOR

FARMER FRONTS NEW BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN FOR PEAS... AND HIS FRIENDS DON'T KNOW YET

John Fanning in the advertising campaign for Batchelors Peas.

A YOUNG Wexford farmer is now greeting motorists and passers by across the country.

John Fanning, 27, from Kilanerin, is one of three farmers to feature in a new advertising campaign for Bachelors Peas. With the cheeky tagline 'Have me on the kitchen table', John's poster is now up on a billboard at the entrance to Gorey town.

He admits that most of his friends haven't noticed him on the billboard yet. 'No-one's really spotted me yet,' he laughed. 'I can still go in to Supervalu and do the shopping.'

John, son of Francis and Philomena, is competing against two other young farmers to become Batchelors Farmer of the Year.

The three lads have been chosen by Batchelors Peas to be the heroes of a new campaign celebrating real Irish farmers. With the tagline 'Nothing Fancy but very Tasty', the farmers represent the three Batchelors Pea varieties, Mushy, Marrowfat and Peas, and can currently be seen in outdoor advertising all across the country.

The three farmers who all come from different farming backgrounds feature in the posters with lines like: Have me on the kitchen table?; Fancy a bit on the side?; D'ya wanna spoon?

As well as being a farmer, John is a keen second row rugby player, and captains the Gorey second team. He's been farming full time for the last two years having taken over from his dad. John describes himself as a positive character who is up for a laugh and likes nothing better than fish, chips and peas.

This week sees a major stepping up of the campaign, and he will be involved in various promotions and media interviews in the coming days. He's due to appear on Ireland AM on Thursday morning, and will take part in a photo shoot with models including Georgia Salpa in the afternoon.

'When I was told I'd be doing a photoshoot with Georgia Salpa, I couldn't believe it,' he laughed.

He got involved in the campaign after being spotted in a Farmers' Calendar for Bothar. Bachelors then interviewed fifteen lads for their campaign, and picked three. 'I don't know if you had to be a bachelor or not, but it must have helped. I am single,' he confirmed.

'It's also good for people to see a different side of farmers. It's great for people to see what we do. The campaign is a bit of craic, and anything that puts a smile on people's faces is a good thing.'

'The rugby lads don't know yet,' he admitted. 'I'd say they will soon though.'