Children’s art adds interest to calf club
Entries are flooding in for LIC’s annual art competition for rural children, as rural schools and their dairy farming families set their sights on entries which will win treasured iPads (for the school) and mobile calf feeder prizes (for the farm).
The farmer-owned cooperative is encouraging rural children to send in artwork of the calf they are training for upcoming Calf Club events and be in to win prizes – for them, their school and their parents.
Communications manager Clare Bayly said it was one of the ways the coop supported rural communities and important time-honoured rural events.
‘‘These days calf club is often the one day in the year when rural communities get together – children, parents, grandparents, teachers and the local community.
‘‘LIC is a longtime supporter and promoter of calf club, providing a website and resources to help children select, train and show their calves. And we’ve gone one step further with an art competition, co sponsored by Stallion Plastics, which encourages children to create a work of art which captures their commitment and love for their calf.
‘‘Last year we received almost 2000 entries, with some schools submitting art from each and every one of their students – so we are really excited to see what we get this year.’’
Prizes range from a Stallion Plastics MG50S mobile calf feeder worth $3900, which goes to the dairy farming parents of the child with the winning entry, and three iPads donated by LIC which goes to the rural school which submits the most innovative entry.
Stallion Plastics chief executive Grant Allen said Calf Club was about children taking responsibility but as a parent himself, he knew that they could not do it alone.
‘‘It may not always seem like the coolest job but it pays off on the day when they can show their animal, be proud of their efforts and get recognition of their hard work, and that goes for the parents too, who will have helped them with their training and keeping the kids motivated.
‘‘The feeder is their reward, so I look forward to delivering the prize later this year and making their next calving season a bit easier,’’ Mr Allen said.