03 May 2024
Over the middle weekend of the Term 1 vacation, the Inaugural Plumpton High School Show Team embarked on their first regional show, The 179th Annual Hawkesbury Show. The students have been working over the past 3 months after school on a Friday to help train our first livestock entrant into the show: Our Wonderful Poll Dorset X Merino Ewe - Wanda!
These students have been halter training Wanda to walk in a pageant like fashion presenting the best parts of herself and her handlers working together to present for the ‘best in show’.
Students participated in many different workshops including (but not limited to); sheep shearing, sheep judging, sheep handling and oral presentations. Students also displayed teamwork, collaboration and liaising skills while learning from other Agriculture High Schools from the area.
We won 6 Ribbons!! The students were extremely enthused and proud of their achievements that are listed below:
1st Place: Softest presented sheep
2nd Place: Best Presented Sheep (with over 30 participating sheep)
2nd place: Junior Hander- 13yo to 18yo (with over 30 participating sheep)
2nd Place: Smallest Eared Sheep
2nd Place: Woolliest Sheep in Show
3rd Place: Sheep that most looks like its handler (fun category)
The team displayed great teamwork and resilience at the show with some students only missing out on ribbons by 1 or 2 points to other competitors. Students involved in the show team were extremely proud of their achievements and are listed below. They will be recognised for their achievements:
Year 7:
• Willow Dartnell
Year 8:
• Alexis Gray
• Zoe Mitchell
• Amani Hussein
Year 9:
• Keira Callaghan
• Katie Smith
• Emily Smith
• Lily Stojanovski
Year 10:
• Isabella Craig (Team Leader)
• Isabella Mortley
Jeremy Barnes
Year 11:
• Caiden Bond
These students have learnt a lot and are ready for our next show in August at the Annual Penrith Show.
It is wonderful to see our students being able to access agriculture given the long tradition of agriculture in Australia and its’ high level of importance in securing much of our nation’s prosperity in the past and presently. Also fantastic to be able to provide our students access to an industry that can provide such a rewarding career for students who would not generally be able to access this opportunity.
A huge thank you to Mr Gerrie and Ms Racela for giving of their time to enable our students to have this amazing experience. Also, a big thank you to Jason our Farm Assistant for his tireless work in supporting our success Agriculture program that sees approximately 200 students studying the course at Plumpton.
Tim Lloyd, Principal
