Kids celebrate rural living at gala days

Leila, 3, and Cohen Ewart, 5, with their pet lamb Suzie at the Tauriko Primary School Agri Gala Day. PHOTO/REBECCA SAVORY

It's a highlight of the year for a number of rural schools across Tauranga today for their annual Agri-Gala day.

Lambs, calves, goats and ponies were grazing on the Tauriko Primary School field this morning adorned with ribbons and their proud owners holding cups.

Four-year-old Cohen Ewart was at the gala day with his two-month-old pet lamb Suzie.

He was entered in the pre-school group with his other classmates from The Village Preschool.

He said Suzie was a good lamb but it was often hard to lead her because she would always stop.

He had been practicing after school for a while as well as keeping busy feeding her and brushing her to prepare for the day.

Coby Hennessy, 6, with his pet lamb Chopper. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Across town at Pyes Pa Primary School, six-year-old Coby Hennessy claimed first place in the lamb-leading competition.

Coby took his lamb Chopper along to the gala day after weeks of grooming, feeding and practicing.

He scooped three trophies and three ribbons for his leading and won reserve champion.

He said it was tricky to walk around the cones because Chopper was a keen runner but that was also his favourite thing about the lamb.