School Ag Day to spread its wings

 

Through the unfortunate event of the M Bovis cattle disease, Mangawhai School’s Ag Day is losing some of its ‘Ag’. However, few things stay the same indefinitely and organisers have moved their focus slightly into the pet arena ensuring as many pupils as possible are able to take part in the school’s biggest fundraiser of the year and an important event for visitors on the early summer calendar.

Firstly there is a call-out for orphan lambs. The school has a number of children keen to be a part of the animal section but without access to suitable animals. It would also be good to have a farm related person to address the children on the basics of rearing their animals.

Another new initiative will be the appearance of chickens at Ag Day. The school has ordered 6-week-old chickens from a hatchery and offered two to a child to purchase, raise, make friends with , then display one at Ag Day. The interest has been “tremendous” as over 40 children will be making their first foray into the poultry business. 

The Hyline breed chickens will be health tested and able to be housed outside in a coop or similar. These girls will start laying beautiful brown eggs from around 18 weeks and are super friendly and healthy. They will also eat grass, worms and grubs if allowed to roam the garden. Oyster grit is also good for them. Hylines are egg laying machines and therefore need high protein feed. A special judging category has been organised so it’s important that their owners take good care of them in order to make them true pets. It’s a novel idea but great for child participation. 

Mangawhai Beach School Ag Day has been running for over 10 years and continues to be Labour Weekend favourite with Mangawhai swelling with holidaymakers. The gala section has organised fun rides and stalls, quickfire raffles, cake decorating competitions, yummy food and entertainment and then during the morning the usual showcase of agricultural traditions with children parading lambs and kids on the day.

 Mangawhai Beach School Agricultural & Gala Day, Saturday October 20, Labour Weekend, 9am – 1pm.