After feeding, weighing, monitoring and caring for their two dairy calves around the clock, Canowindra High School year nine agricultural students have been rewarded for their efforts.
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Along with seven other schools in the central west, Canowindra High School participated in the Dairy Australia run, Cows Create Careers- Farm Module and took out first prize in the senior section out of all schools in the South Coast Tablelands and Central region of NSW and were crowned joint winners with Illawarra Christian School as the Overall Winning School across the region.
Aimed at increasing awareness of the career options available in the dairy industry, agricultural teacher at Canowindra High School, Owen McLaughlan said the students embraced the program and caring for their calves.
"We were given two dairy calves from local dairy farmers, the Kinselas and we kept them for five weeks," he said.
"The kids had to feed them before school, at lunchtime and on the weekends so it was a big commitment."
The 17 students had to do more than just feeding the calves, with the program requiring them to regularly monitor the calves' health.
"On Friday they'd have to weigh them and write a scientific report that the students sent to the dairy industry and they've have to check the calves' health including their eyes, their behaviour and monitor them every day," Mr McLaughlan said.
Dairy advocate, Trevor King from Orange also visited the students and spoke to them about the career options available to them in the dairy industry.
"I'm extremely proud of my students and they deserved the top award for all the effort and team work they displayed over the course of the program," Mr McLaughlan said.
"We would also like to thank local dairy farmer, Linda Kinsela for her ongoing support of this very worthwhile program."