A moo-ving experience

Jess Lowe washes the cattle to prepare them for showing.

By Margaret Maccoll

It was a different classroom for almost 20 Year 9-12 students from Noosa District State High School who brought about 11 of the school’s cattle to the Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show over the weekend.

Led by agricultural teacher Kerryn Foley the group trucked four steers, one senior cow and six heifers into the show Friday morning and prepared to camp in the showgrounds overnight to keep an eye on their animals.Student Jess Lowe said it was a great learning experience and good fun.

“I love interacting with the animals and you meet a lot of people,” she said.

“You learn a lot about the animals, where the industry is heading and about communicating and working with a team of people.”

Myles Carmody occasionally works with the cattle on his uncle’s farm at Eumundi, likes being with the cattle and the experience the show brings but hasn’t yet decided whether farming was where his future would lie.

Liam Sylvester was keeping a tight rein on young steer Neon and was pleased with his performance at his first show. “We needed to put in some effort and he’s come a long way,” he said.

The team had an extra camper join the the group after a baby goat was donated to the school. Ms Foley said the week old kid named Domino was a twin that the mother had rejected. Despite needing two-hourly feeds Domino was a much welcome guest.