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Rural pet wranglers are hard at work across Franklin and North Waikato, preparing for the upcoming ag day season.
Otaua School pupil Leonard Stichbury, 11, will be showing a calf for the seventh year running.
He says that being kind to your calf is key to a good showing. “Be kind to your calf, give it heaps of treats, and do lots of lead practice. “Calves are nice animals, cuddly, and not too energetic.”
Mum Rhea Stichbury, who is on the school’s organising committee, says pupils have entered 40 calves, 32 chickens, 13 lambs, and six goats.
Agricultural day (ag day/ calf club/country day/pet day etc) is a key day on the event calendar for rural/ country schools.
The purpose of ag day is to promote and encourage children to care for and be responsible for an animal, while also embracing the school’s rural roots.
Usually open to the public or the local community, this is also a family day.
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, mums, dads and members of the community are invited to come along, watch the children show their animals and see the horticultural or art displays.
Below we’ve included a list of known ag days across the wider Franklin area.
September: Sept 12: Mauku School Country Life Day (9am to 1pm), Karaka School Ag Day (9am start).
Sept 19: Bombay School Calf Club, Ramarama School Calf Club Day, Patumahoe School Calf Club Day, Puni School Country Day (8.30am to 12.30pm), Pukekohe East Pet Day (8.30am to 1pm), Maramarua School Calf and Lamb Day.
Sept 20: Brookby School Ag Day. Sept 24: Aka Aka School Calf Club Sept 25: Clevedon School Ag Day (9.30am to 12pm), Waipipi School Calf Club Day.
Sept 26: Ararimu School Calf Club (9am start), Glenbrook School Calf Club Day (9am to 1pm), Buckland School Ag Day, Te Hihi School Ag Day (9am to 2pm), Onewhero Area School, Paparimu School Calf Club Day, Drury School Calf Club Day.
October: Oct 16: Mangatawhiri School Calf Club Day.
Oct 17: Awhitu District School Calf Club Day, Harrisville School Pet Day Gala (9am to 1pm), Otaua School Calf Club, Pukeoware School Calf Club Day (10am to 1pm), Waiau Pa School Calf Club, Hunua School Ag Day.
Oct 22: Pukekawa School Calf Club Day.
Oct 23: Mangatangi Calf and Lamb Day. Are we missing your agriculture day? Email info@times.co.nz with the details, and we will update our list. Check your local school for any updates.
