Lamb and Calf Days: Winning the Ribbon

“If it’s a calf that’s obviously groomed and doesn’t have a lot of loose hair, it’s shedding all the time.”

If the child, and not the parents, fed the animal, the animal will come to him when called.

“Most of the kids, when they did it, were into it, they really love their pet and it shows.

“It shows in the way they treat him and how the animal reacts to them and they react to the animal.”

Joe says it’s a good opportunity for kids to learn how to care for an animal and how to feed it properly.

Lamb and calf days are an important part of rural life and something that should continue, he says.

“We don’t want this to fade away because it just gives kids a good, basic understanding of how to care for animals and the time they have to spend with them.”

Caring for farm animals is something that children living on farms grow up with.

“If they’re off the dairy farm, they’re helping feed the calves, you know.

“Often, before they go to school, the parents are outside sometimes feeding the calves, so the children join us and learn this from an early age.

“It’s the same with sheep farmers – people bring in orphaned lambs on a cold, wet day, keep them warm and feed them, and learning all these things from a young age, it becomes somewhat natural. “

Joe has been judging pet days for many years, whether at a local school or at the Bush Agricultural Club’s day.

“I am glad that I can contribute at least a little something to the local community.”

While she sees some kids get a little disappointed when they don’t win a ribbon, she says it’s enough to tell them not to give up and try again next year.

“They will get better at it over time.”

He says that there are many children who would like to have a pet but do not have the opportunity, however in most cases, if they do not come from a farming family, they can always go and ask a local farmer if they would like to be happy if he let them raise a lamb or a calf. .

“It’s good to see them happy, having fun and enjoying raising a lamb or calf and being able to show it to other people. It’s just a good skill for them to have.”