Pets get their day of glory

Biting winds and occasional rain could not dampen the spirits or the pride of the dozens of Gordonton School children who enjoyed their agricultural day yesterday.

Calves, lambs and goats arrived by truck, float, trailer and even car for the annual event, and children eagerly fed, groomed and cuddled their charges as they waited for the judging to begin.

The day was one of several around the area in the past couple of weeks, with the coveted champion and champion/reserve prizewinners invited to show their pets at the group day next Tuesday, which would also be at Gordonton School.

Holly Landon, 6, said "winning ribbons" was the best part of last year's agricultural day, and she hoped to have similar success with her lamb, Daisy, yesterday.

Daisy, wearing a fluorescent pink cover, watched eagerly as matching pink-clad Holly munched on crackers from her pink lunchbox, and appeared to enjoy having her wool brushed for the event. Hide-and-seek in the long grass was Holly's favourite game to play with Daisy.

Teacher Marie Buchanan said slightly more than half of the school's 250 students brought pets along, with the remaining children staying in class but allowed out to watch the judging.

Miss Buchanan said a lot of after-school hours of work went into preparing the pets for agricultural day, and it was a great experience for the children involved.

"Being able to keep a pet teaches the kids a lot of empathy.

"They have a real sense of achievement."

- © Fairfax NZ News