Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) Pigs in Schools Project

Mr Ball has been busy designing and building a pig washing station ready for the Pigs in Schools program at this year's Perth Royal Show.

Students have been working hard meticulously measuring, cutting and welding to create this unique apparatus which will be used to allow safe and effective washing of competition pigs at the Royal Show. A number of schools, including WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin (WACOAC) and York District High School (who have partnered with WACoAC for this program) will have access to the washer once it is delivered to the Show Grounds in September.

WA No-Tilllage Farmers Assoc (WANTFA) Field Day - Tammin

Staff and students made the trek to Tammin on Thursday August 14 to attend a local field day aimed at showing the innovations surrounding self-propelled (SP) sprayers. There were live demonstrations and the ability for everyone to get in and operate the machinery.

Mr de Beer and Mr Rice-Fazey attended, along with a number of Certificate III in Agriculture students. The day was very informative, and it was great to 'have a go' in sprayers different to our own John Deere machine.

Butcher shop

On Wednesday last week, we welcomed Mr Jones back briefly to slaughter some sheep and then again on Friday to help the students process these carcasses. Mr Jones was assisted by Mr Marshall and some keen Year 12 students on both days. The upgrades have proven to be welcomed by all of the taller students who no longer need to duck under the railing!

Sheep

The wet weather has put a dampener on shearing and crutching for a few days, but the students have been plugging away and getting in some practice between wet spells. The Year 11s had a chance to do some crutching this week (under the watchful eye of Miss Baker), as well as practicing their mustering and drafting skills and getting some practical components of their livestock handling competencies completed with Miss Baker and Mrs Arthur.

Trading places

As we approach the end of Term 3, our Year 12 students are eager to complete their remaining requirements and prepare to move on to their life after school. On Farm, we’re fortunate to have a strong, collaborative relationship with the Trades staff, which enables us to flexibly move students into areas that best support their learning at this stage.

Students who have completed their Certificate II in Agriculture have been welcomed into the Trades areas, where they are engaging in practical work and contributing to major projects. The goal is to bring these projects to a satisfactory stage in time for Open Day!

We would like to thank all the Trades staff for collaborating with us to make these "student swaps" possible. Many thanks to you all - especially Mr Prangnell and Mr Elliott for the seemingly daily exchanges on Thursdays and Fridays about students wishing to swap!

Open Day

As we get closer to Open Day, we are all busy preparing our areas and ensuring the campus and farm are tidy and ready for the day. Please be aware that the days leading up to Open Day will be a hive of activity in all areas, but Farm will have the added challenge of moving machinery, implements and livestock. Be aware of your surroundings, leave all gates as you found them, help out where you can, and above all, remember all the usual safety procedures and driving protocols.

Remember that week 7 is a "flipped week" so Year 12 students will be on Farm and in Trades on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon will begin Open Day prep, with students in their allocated areas on Thursday. All students allocated to a Farm enterprise will need to gather at the workshop for rollcall on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

Daniel de Beer

Farm Manager

Kylie Iles

Assistant Farm Manager