Sheep billboards make light of drought

It began as a bit of a laugh in the heart of drought country – but Mike Bowler’s sheep billboards have become a pocket of optimism for a community battling its most savage drought in decades.

An image shared by Bowler showing his sheep arranged to form the word ‘bugger’ led to television appearances and international media attention.

Bowler was frustrated with life in drought-stricken Parnassus, a rural outpost in North Canterbury which hadn’t seen rain since December last year.

The drought had been extremely tough on his farm, he said – he spent $1000 a day dropping feed for his sheep, who looked equally glum on the parched hills of a roadside paddock.

‘‘This drought has cost us about $130,000 to date. We’re probably not going to survive another year if this keeps going,’’ he said.

‘‘We have had droughts, and we do farm for droughts normally. But it’s usually only two or three months, not six months.’’

One morning, while pouring another $1000 on the ground, Bowler noticed his sheep had formed an orderly queue behind his bike, waiting politely to be fed.

After months of ‘‘the same old thing every day,’’ he made a choice: he allowed himself a bit of fun.

After trying out names, messages, and shapes, Bowler started to look forward to arranging his sheep into a new pattern every day, channeling his frustration into creativity.

‘‘I only do it really to, I dunno, get a smile out of people,’’ he said.

Though he’s ‘‘not one for the limelight,’’ Bowler said he was happy his sheep had lifted spirits. He expected the drought to con- tinue for another couple of months, and to enter a lambing season without feed, potentially leading to a lot of casualties.

Until then, he would continue with his ‘Kiwi Art’ – even if it’s just for those driving through Parnassus, to smile about.