Former Longbeach school pupils Tabitha White and Milli Pottinger were among the podium winners in the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges competition.
The pair, now at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School in Christchurch, were in a school team which placed second in the senior event at the recent Ashburton A&P Show.
Agri Futures general manager Daniel O’Regan said the third Canterbury Clash was a huge success. He thanked the team at the show for providing an exceptional venue and an event that was a well-run machine.
‘‘We had students from Oamaru to Christchurch participate in the activities that tested students’ knowledge across agriculture and horticulture.
“It was fantastic to have Rangi Ruru clean sweep the seniors, especially as the school doesn’t yet have ag and hort classes.’’
The schools participating were Ashburton College, Mount Hutt College, Beaconsfield Primary, Craighead College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, Waimate College, Waihi School and Waitaki Boys’ and Girls’ high schools.
The event was emceed by agriedutainment creator Tangaroa Walker from Farm 4 Life.
Established by the New Zealand Rural Games Trust, the event was a fast-paced, amazing race-style competition.
It offered students hands-on experience for teams of four in various aspects of the rural sector – all run by experts and members of Hinds Young Farmer Club with support from students from Ashburton College.
Modules included ATV safety, tree identification, attaching an insulator, break fencing, irrigation set up, feeds and weeds, handpiece setup, wool classing, gumboot throwing, sulky racing, resilient landscapes, CT scanning, first aid, recycling, animal welfare, as well as seeds grains and pulses.
All the modules were supported by the support of professionals in their fields. Students were treated to a free barbecue also thanks to community support.
‘‘Agri Futures also creates in-school modules to support teachers and students studying agriculture and horticulture.
“These modules supplement the existing curriculum, providing additional resources and hands-on learning opportunities. And we offer scholarships to support the next generation as they head into study after school.
“These scholarships are aimed at rural students looking to study food and fibre post-school and rural sporting athletes.’’
Full results: Senior Awards, presented by Minister of Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture Mark Patterson. First: Rangi Ruru (Brooke Cooper, Laura Kelso, Izzie Jones, Sophie Orchard); second: Rangi Ruru (Tabitha White, Mikayla Malloy, Milli Pottinger, Charlotte Slater).
Junior Awards, presented by Rangitata MP James Meager. First: Waimate High School (Jonty Charles, Lewis Gardiner, Blake Paling, Fergus Robertson); second: Rangi Ruru (Bonnie Collier, Brie Malloy, Phoebe Hore, Joannah Mulcock); third: Waimate High School (Sophie Hargreaves, Briar Craig, Penny Smith, Zaylee Davis).
Intermediate Awards, presented by Labour Agricultural spokesperson Jo Luxton: First: Craighead Diocesan team (Neve Gordon, Kaitlyn Saywell, Harriet Harley, Georgia O’Sullivan); second: Waihi School (George Neal, Sam Westgarth, George Brown, Otto Acland).
Gumboot Throwing Awards, presented by the founder of Agri Futures Steve Hollander. Senior and overall champion: Charlotte Connolly of Craighead Diocesan; junior girl: Briar Craig of Waimate College; junior boy: Blake Paling of Waimate College; intermediate girl: Georgia O’Sullivan of Craighead Diocesan; intermediate boy: Samuel Westgarth of Waihi School.
