• Howick and Botany Times

GETTING ON: Pupils at Brookby Primary School with their new best friends. From left, Brooke Riordan with her kid goat Jazz, Jason Honour with his lamb Sophie, and Deacon McEwen with Sid and Peaches. Times photos Rebecca Gardiner.

CHILDREN at one of East Manukau’s oldest schools are celebrating new life – of the quacking, bleating and mooing kind.

Animal rides, wonky vegetables and tasty treats were all part of

the fun during Agriculture Day, which was held at Brookby Primary School on Saturday.

Youngsters relished their time in the sun at the festival, as well as the chance to show off a feathered friend or two.

The school community rallied around the event, which has been held nearly every year since 1874.

“They had a ball,” says principal Lyn Gordon. “The kids and the animals were the focus. There were animals everywhere.”

Craft and food stalls stocked up with hearty goodies filled hungry stomachs, and competitions were held for children and their furry side-kicks. Despite a few showers around midday, the weather stayed fine and the turnout was “absolutely fantastic”.

In the months leading up to the event, each student chose a calf, kid goat, lamb, chicken or duckling to care for.

“They raise them from babies and most were just a few days old,” says Mrs Gordon.

From pint-sized new entrants to pupils in Year 6, all children took part. While a crèche housed the animals during school hours, the youngsters visited their animals for lunchtime feeding.

Mrs Gordon says children love taking care of animals and thrive on responsibility.

“They really build a bond with them. It’s the commitment and responsibility. It’s also learning that you have to get up at 6am and feed a bleating lamb.”