Agriculture
Success at the Greater Sydney Cattle Competition
Our cattle team, Isabella Robbins, Jacob Mulcahy, Alicia Balmer, Ruby Keys, Aiden Mulcahy, Caitlin Jones, Sybella Williams, William Semler-Jenssen and Chloe Shipp, under the guidance of Ms. Last, successfully reared and monitored the growth of a Murray Grey Steer for 100 days as part of the Greater Sydney Cattle Competition, which involved 12 schools from both the public and private sectors. The students carefully planned his feeding ration, worked on breaking him in, and honed their parading skills in preparation for competition day.
On Live Day, held in mid-August, the steer was judged and placed 6th. The student team was judged on both their parading and judging abilities as well as the presentation they prepared, which outlined their feeding regime. This competition is a “hoof and hook” competition where the carcase is also judged. The Senior Beef Appraisal Team took out 1st place, Sybella came 3rd in the Jnr Novice Parading competition, Alicia came 4th in Jnr Experienced Parading, Isabella came 4th in Senior Novice Parading, Will came 4th in Junior Judging, and the team took out 3rd place for the Herdsman Competition. This competition is a "hoof and hook" event where the carcase is appraised also and Jasper (the steer) took out 2nd place.
The competition culminated last week with the Presentation Evening, where Isabella and Alicia represented the school proudly when they delivered their speech summing up the lessons learned from the “Herdsman” and Animal Husbandry” components of the competition. The team were then delighted to learn that the combination of results from the different events earned them = Reserve Champion in the competition. Congratulations to the entire team for their dedication and success!
Agriculture Students Shine at Penrith Show
Students from our agriculture program showcased their skills at the recent Penrith Show, excelling in several events. They constructed an impressive display outlining the important role that insects play in agriculture. This display will be reconstructed at Camden Show next year. This year 15 schools competed in the competition.
As well as showing a range of our livestock (and winning the Champion Livestock Trophy), students competed in a range of parading and judging events where Ruby was awarded Champion Novice Parader and Isabella Reserve Champion in the same class. Aiden was awarded Champion Beef Jnr Judge, Milla was awarded Champion Poultry Judge and Isabella and Kristian were the Champion Team Poultry Judges.
The heifer fitting competition the Junior Team came 2nd and in the Young Farmers Challenge the Junior Team came 2nd and the Senior Team came 4th.
Thanks to Isabella Robbins, Jacob Mulcahy, Kristian Harris, Alicia Balmer, Milla Dempsey, Ruby Keys, Caitlin Jones, Aiden Mulcahy, William Semler-Janssen, Mahdi El Kabbout, Chloe Shipp, Nabra Yousif, Harriet Thompson, Gabriella Circosta, Caroline Lolesio and Erik Dobos who represented our school. Thanks also to their very supportive families. We are incredibly proud of their achievements!
Spring Births
Aside from the Shows we have had lots of other excitement at the Ag Plot with the birth of three sets of twin kids whose playful antics are keeping the students entertained.
Year 7 students have been busy harvesting their Snow Peas and our Year 10 students have been growing Gourmet Mushrooms and learning about the vast array of alternate uses of mushrooms from building materials to clothing.
We look forward to Term 4 where students will have the opportunity to attend the Camden Agricultural Youth Expo on 17th November and will be able to further their skills in handling, judging and parading a range of livestock, and judging fruit and vegetables.
Agriculture Faculty