Sale yields return for pupils
A rural school is sitting on a small gold mine after forging a creative way to fund resources for its pupils.
Waituna West School pocketed nearly $7500 at the Feilding Saleyards on Monday, as pupils watched 118 lambs raised on their farms getting sold.
Farmers decided this year to raise a handful of lambs, bought by the school, and sell them as young ewes, called hoggets.
The school, 25 kilometres north of Feilding, bought the lambs for $130 each and sold them for an average of $185.
Stock agent Tony Gallen, who had children at the school, said the northern Manawatu¯ town wasn’t a wealthy one, but it didn’t stop the community banding together for their children.
‘‘It was a good year to get them,’’ Gallen said.
‘‘Fundraising always wants to dig into the pockets, but this was an easy way to raise money.
‘‘We live in a farming community, we all have grass and it’s not costing money. A rural school depends on its community... If the school does well then the community does well.’’
Parent Nick Hogan said inspiration was drawn from the Hunterville Rugby Club, which runs a similar fat lamb competition. Money will help the school to buy reading books, build a swimming pool and contribute to end-of-year camps.
Hogan said the school entered the venture aiming for a profit margin of about $50 a sheep, but the end margin was more than $60.
The school has about 60 pupils.
‘‘We live in a farming community, we all have grass and it’s not costing money. A rural school depends on its community... ’’ Tony Gallen