Best of rural life on show
Calves, sheep, goats and horses helped turn Manfeild into a slice of agricultural heaven for a day.
Hundreds of people turned out to the Manawatu¯ A&P show at Manfeild on Saturday to enjoy a sample of agricultural life. The grounds were packed with all kinds of animals and there were dog demonstrations, shearing and trade stalls to keep everyone entertained.
People also had the chance to ride the old A¯ piti mail coach, pulled by clydesdales.
The animal nursery proved to be popular with young and old. Dairy farmer Lawrence Satherley was inside the arena running the attraction filled with goats, lambs, calves and people eager to pat them.
Satherley said the show provided a good opportunity for people to get a taste of farm life.
‘‘We absolutely love it, when I grew up we always had access to farms.’’
He enjoyed seeing people who weren’t as familiar with the animals interacting with them and said it was a good opportunity to show how farmers cared about their animals. Satherley’s family were involved with the show too, with two of his granddaughters showing their calves.
‘‘This is what it’s about for us, we love the livestock.’’
Outside the arena, Manawatu¯ Young Farmers was running an agricultural competition for primary school pupils to test their knowledge. Chairwoman Kate Stewart said it was encouraging to see so many young people interested in agriculture.
Forty teams of children were competing in the challenges, which included reassembling a milking cluster and learning about quad bike safety. Stewart hoped the challenge would help to broaden their knowledge and also learn about health and safety, which was an important part of farming culture.
‘‘It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our young farmers and tell a positive story about young people in the agriculture industry.’’