Agriculture  

It’s been a busy start to the year for our Agriculture students and it has been wonderful to welcome so many of our Year 7 students up to the farm to monitor their chickens while they get to know each other. The female chickens will be available for sale at the end of the term.

Many of our students have been working enthusiastically, developing their skills and knowledge in preparation for the show season and have already achieved some early success.

Cattle Show Team

Although our cattle don’t arrive until next term, the Cattle Show Team got some early practice in by entering the Young Beef Cattle Judges Competition at Castle Hill Show. In a class of over 60 competitors, students were required to judge cattle and the finalists were then required to give an oral presentation explaining why they had placed the animals in the order they had chosen. Rylee Schaefer was awarded first place and Zara Buckley third place. An amazing achievement and, as a result, Rylee will now compete in the State Finals at Sydney Royal Show.

Camden Show

Our alpaca team, Alicia Balmer, Charley Buckley, Zara Buckley, Chayce Carran, Sophie Constantine, Milla Dempsey, Charlie Gregory, Ruby Keys, Tanneah McMartin, Jacob Mulcahy, Jack N, Isabella Robbins, Rylee Schaefer, Georgie Todd and Phoebe Walton have been training our 3 show alpacas to work through a series of obstacles that they may be faced with in a farm situation. They took these animals to the show to compete in the stockmanship and showmanship competitions and came home with a raft of ribbons. 

Students from years 7 – 11 assisted with the preparation of our poultry and of our display for this year’s Camden Show and it was pleasing to see the experienced students guiding the new recruits in such a positive manner. As Camden Show is only a few days before we need to take our poultry into Sydney Royal, we only enter a small team in the school’s section at Camden. We were very pleased to learn that our team was awarded 1st place in this section.

Four of our students, Charley Buckley, Sophie Constantine, Hannah Stootman and Georgie Todd were finalists in the Junior Agricultural Ambassador Competition at the show where they were involved in stewarding for various events throughout the show and interviewed about their involvement in agricultural activities. At the completion of the weekend activities, Georgie was awarded Champion and Hannah Reserve Champion. 

This year Our Paddock to Plate Display in the School’s Tent was about Soil. It showed the various components that make up soil and the audience could see what happens below the surface as well as the array of produce that emerges above ground. There were lots of activities for the young spectators who were guided by our students manning the display throughout the 2 days of the show. Thanks to the dedicated students who gave up many hours of their time to help with the display and who encouraged the young visitors use the interactive parts and carry out related craft activities. It was wonderful to welcome a large number of year 7 students to the team. So thanks to: Ava Alden, Alicia Balmer, Charley Buckley, Zara Buckley, Chayce Carran, Sophie Constantine, Harrison Davis, Milla Dempsey, Olivia Denford, Claire Dodd, Will Giles, Charlie Gregory, Paige Harvey, Mia Hassett, Monica Hotson, Ruby Keys, Ruby McHutchison, Tanneah McMartin, Jacob Mulcahy, Jack N, Mackenzie Reade, Isabella Robbins, Rylee Schaefer, Koby Taylor, Georgie Todd and Phoebe Walton. 

The finale to the show, for us, is the Young Farmers Challenge, where competitors race through a range of tasks that a farmer may be faced with during a day on the farm. This year we had a team in both the Pen and Schools section. This has become a bit of a tradition for Elderslie High School. The teams were placed 3rd and 2nd respectively and we feel there should be an award for the most vocal cheer squad as we would be sure to win. 

Sydney Royal Show

Students have been preparing for a range of events at the Royal and will compete in Poultry Showmanship, Young poultry Judges, Alpaca Showmanship/Stockmanship and Alpaca Young Judges competitions. As well as the student being judged, we have also entered a range of chickens and ducks.

Some of our dedicated alpaca enthusiasts have also volunteered to work on the “Little Hands on the Land” exhibit, helping the young visitors to the show lead an alpaca.

We are always so proud of our Agriculture Team and how well they represent Elderslie High School.

Ms Atkinson

Agriculture Teacher