Palmerston North cleans up in muck

MURRAY WILSON/Manawatu Standard

MUCKING IN: Students get their hands dirty at the Interschool Agricultural Competition at Rongotea.

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Palmerston North Boys' High School has won the region's agricultural challenge, which pitted students from 11 schools against each other.

It was held at the Rongotea saleyards, where the sheep and cattle modules were conducted, and in the grounds of Memorial Hall.

Second was Feilding High School B team and third Wairarapa College.

There were five students in each team and they tried their hand at quad-bike manoeuvrability, tractor management and putting together a trough for stock.

There were written modules which included general knowledge, health and safety and the maths needed to set up a herbicde application.

Land-based training operations manager Stu Bruce said the top three teams would go on to compete against the best in the North Island at the Otiwhiti Station near Hunterville in October. "We have already run a similar agricultural challenge for schools in Taranaki, Whanganui and Waikato. Their top three teams will also go on to the North Island championships."

He said the contestants included students from schools at Wairarapa College, Palmerston North Boys' High School, Feilding High School and Freyberg High School as well as Longburn Adventist College.

"Some come from farming backgrounds, but many don't."

Mr Bruce said the real bonus was seeing young people who were interested in moving to rural jobs.

He said those who did not plan to get a farming position could see what was on offer, which often persuaded them to seek employment in the rural area. "What's great is that the kids give almost everything a go, all the modules. They are prepared to try new things."

The winning Palmerston North Boys' High School team was made up of boys from two farming families. They enjoyed working on the farm, and it showed when the points were tallied. They were good fencers, cattle and sheep drafters and they did well in the written tasks.

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