Clevedon School .::. Agriculture Day

The CSS also has a wonderful night planned for the 7^th of October (more information will follow) and we feel this will be a great way to finish and celebrate Agriculture Day.

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Clevedon School Agriculture Day

One of the most significant events of the school year is Agriculture Day. Agriculture Day preparation begins in Term 3 with Agriculture Day usually occurring on the first Saturday of Term 4. This sheet will provide you with background and essential information to help you prepare for this event.

Calf Club Calf Club began in the early 1900’s, when nearly every rural school and community in New Zealand gathered together, once a year, to celebrate the special bond which develops between children and young animals.

Today, it’s called Agriculture Day to reflect the fact that fewer children have ready access to farm animals and are unable to raise a larger animal due to space restrictions, and “hectic” schedules. The objective for the day however remains. Aside from owning and caring for an animal, ‘Agriculture Day’ is about fostering human values like motivation, commitment, responsibility and compassion, to stand children in good stead for the rest of their lives.

Agriculture day is a very special day in the Clevedon School calendar. It is an official school day that provides the community, past pupils, family and friends with an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of our local children.

Choosing your animal for Agriculture Day

One of the many joys of living in a rural community can be giving our children the opportunity of learning to love and care for animals. Agriculture Day provides children with an opportunity to raise and care for an animal.

Children can only enter one animal i.e. a calf, a lamb, a kid, chicken or a pet.

Raising an animal can be great fun and very rewarding but it is a lot of work and a large commitment and should only be undertaken by those who have sufficient time, appropriate space and genuine care and concern for their animal.

Calves initially require two bottle feeds of milk or milk substitute per day. At about 2 weeks you could choose to train your calf to drink from a bucket – this requires skill and patience. You may expect to use approximately 40kg of milk powder per calf. Pellets can be introduced at about 6 weeks and fresh grass and water should always be available.

All calves must have a TB ear tag or papers on the day.

Kids and lambs initially require four or five small feeds a day, then a morning, lunch and evening feed until four to six weeks old. After this two larger feeds are sufficient supplemented with fresh grass or meal. Lambs and kids are usually fed on milk substitutes such as Denkavit and will need at least 15 - 20kg of milk powder.

You will require bottles and teats for feeding and collars and lead ropes. Calves should also have covers. These can be either home made out of a burlap sack or covers are e available at your local farm shop.
Newborn calves, lambs and kids need a warm dry shelter with clean bedding (hay/straw/ shavings). The surest way to a sick newly acquired animal is draughty, damp, cold surroundings. Access to natural sunlight is also necessary as the week’s progress.

Within a short period they also require access to grass & room to exercise.

Chickens need to be kept warm. To assist with this it is recommended that two or three chicks are raised together. It is suggested that they are kept beside an oil column heater constantly for the first few weeks until strong and feathers have formed. Chicks eat Chicken Starter Mix and need a continuous supply of fresh water.

PET CORNER

Bring along your pet; (dogs & cats excluded), rabbit, fish, guinea pig, bird, frog or ????

FEED SUPPLIES

There are a number of business’s which sell milk powder, calf meal, chicken starter mix etc. Our local supplier is Clevedon Rural Supplies in Clevedon; otherwise feed supplies can be brought from Profarm in Papakura, Wrightson, RD 1 in Pukekohe, or your local vet.

AGRICULTURE DAY – The Best Day of School.

I love spring time because all the baby animals are being born and I get to pick a pet to take to Agriculture Day. I’m lucky enough to be able to raise a lamb, kid or calf. It’s the best day of school because it’s fun and exciting and I get to take my pet to school and see all my friend’s pets too. It’s hard work but it’s worth it.

The morning and night feeds in the cool spring air, the leading and calling and the hours sitting and talking with my goat are rewarded with cuddles, ribbons, trophies and badges if I’m lucky and a friend for life.

I enjoy showing my friends, family and the judges what I have taught and learned about my goat and the yummy food, side stalls, pony rides, pets in the pet tent, decorated sand saucers and bunting flags make it the best day of school. I’m sad when my goat goes back to the farm but I’m proud to have raised him and I have photos and ribbons to look at and can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Kate Hamilton (Year 4)

Information is provided on the school web site closer to Agriculture Day.

Assistance is available from the office or members of the Agriculture Day Committee if required. Volunteers are also required by the Agriculture Day Committee and CSS to make this day the wonderful success that it is.

Agricultural Day News

Clevedon School Agriculture Day Friday October 7th 2011

Hi to all the Parents out there:

It is that time of year again to decide which animal you would like to rear this year for AG Day! Most parents know all about the day but here is some information on care required for animals in case you would like to try a change and for all those NEW parents out there. So come on give it a go!

Calf Club began in the early 1900’s, when nearly every rural school and community in New Zealand drew together, once a year, to celebrate the special bond which develops between children and young animals.

Today, it’s called Agriculture Day (or Ag Day) to reflect the fact that fewer children have ready access to farm animals and are unable to raise a larger animal due to space restrictions, and “hectic” schedules. One of the many joys of living in a rural community can be giving our children the opportunity of learning to love and care for animals without the commitment of the lifetime. The objective for the day however remains. Aside from owning and caring for an animal, ‘Agriculture Day’ is about fostering human values like motivation, commitment, responsibility and compassion, to stand with children for the rest of their lives.

Agriculture day is a very special day on the Clevedon School calendar. Not only is it counted as a school day, it is also a chance for all of the community, past pupils, family and friends to celebrate the efforts of our local children. School projects are displayed in the classrooms.

Children can only enter one animal i.e. a calf, a lamb, a kid, chicken or a pet.

Raising an animal can be great fun and very rewarding but is a lot of work and a large commitment for the child and animals to develop their partnership.

The focus of our Ag Day is for all students to enter the spirit of the day and learn about commitment to raising an animal. We realize that this is not always possible for all families so this year there will be an expectation for those students who are not raising an animal, to nurture and grow a plant for presentation and judging on the day.

More information will be provided on this to all students as the time gets closer to begin the care and commitment programme for Ag Day.

Please consider carefully at this time whether you wish to raise an animal or participate in the nurturing and presentation of a plant.

Things to consider when choosing your animal for Ag Day

CALVES

Initially require two bottle feed of milk or milk substitute per day, 1 morning and 1 at night. After that follow the instructions on the milk powder.
You may expect to use approximately 40kg of milk powder per calf. Meal can be introduced at about 6 weeks and fresh grass and water should always be available.
They require a cover and brushing.
All calves must have a TB ear tag.
They are judged on health and handling.

LAMBS AND KIDS

Initially require 4-5 small feeds a day of milk substitute e.g. Anlamb, reducing the amount of feeds per day and increasing the volume SLOWLY. Until down to 3 feeds per day morning, lunch and evening.
Follow the instructions on the milk powder and get advice from the farmer
They require approximately 20kg of milk powder per animal.
They are judged on health, handling and calling.

These are all newborn animals and require a warm dry shelter with clean bedding of hay, straw or shavings. They also need access to natural sunlight as they grow as well as access to grass, water and room to run around.

Check what brand of milk powder the farm is already using and use the same as the change is hard on them and can cause death.

You will need bottles and teats for feeding and collars and leading ropes for training.

CHICKENS

Need to be kept very warm or they won’t eat.
To assist with this it is recommended that 2 or 3 chicks be raised together. It is suggested that they be kept by an oil heater constantly for the first few weeks until strong and feathers have formed.
Chicks eat starter mix and need a continuous supply of fresh water.
They are judged on health and perching on the arm.

PET CORNER

You can bring along your pet; (dogs and cats excluded), a rabbit, fish, guinea pig, bird, frog etc. They are judged on showing an understanding of the daily care and requirements of the animal and that it is happy and health.

FEED SUPPLIES

There are a number of businesses which stock milk powder, calf meal, chicken starter mix, etc. Our local suppliers are Profarm in Papakura, Rural Supplies in Clevedon, Wrightsons, Farmlands or RD1 in Pukekohe.

All the Animals must be born between 1^st July and 31^st Aug (excluding the pets)

Any questions please call Nicci Pallin-Simmonds 021 2351348