ABOUT 250 schoolkids handled cattle, collected chook eggs, ginned cotton and enjoyed a cooked brekkie when Farrer held its annual Food & Fibre Day on Wednesday.
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Students from seven schools in the Tamworth area gained information and took part in hands-on sessions with Farrer teachers, students and special guests.
Agriculture teacher Marty Peeters said – aptly – that it was “a fruitful exercise” for Farrer as well as the visiting children.
“It started as a pilot program as a directive from the Minister for Education a few years ago – we were one of the original pilot schools,” Mr Peeters said.
“We decided to continue it because we find it a fruitful exercise for us, because we can involve our boys … we’re trying to instil in them that this is an opportunity to share the knowledge that they have.
“They also get to work on their communication skills and their ability to interact with other children and adults as well.”
Mr Peeters said the number of visiting students was “fantastic”, with three school groups in the morning session and four in the afternoon session.
“We invited every school in the region for the first time, now we have the hang of the program, and we will have about 250 kids involved this year,” he said on the day.
Hillvue Public School Year 4 teacher Nicki Lothian said not only did the children get to learn about where their food and fibre comes from, but they were also able to find out about the school itself.
“We’ve talked about the opportunity to attend this school and the different education you can have here,” Mrs Lothian said.
“Some are now talking about coming here because of the opportunities outside the classroom.
“We want to give them options, and some of the kids have never been here.
“It’s lovely that the [Farrer] kids are involved and showing our students what they can aspire to as an older student.”