The Neilson-Smith sisters won group of three at the Waikato Show.
The Neilson-Smith sisters have had a busy few months proudly showing their goats in agricultural competitions across Waipā and the Waikato – and learning plenty about responsibility along the way.
Erika, Paris, Anna and their goats with brother Henry at the Waikato Show. Wilma van der Hulst is the judge to the right.
Pāterangi School students Erika, 11, Anna, 8, and Paris, 5, have put in the hard yards to nurture and display their calf club pets.
Midnight, Star and Lilly respectively have become the centre of the sisters’ world since arriving on August 13.
“It’s the first time Paris has had a calf club goat, this will be Anna’s third goat and Erika has had a mixture of lambs and goats since she was 5,” mum Laura Neilson-Smith said.
“They share knowledge and talk with each other. They work together.”
Laura said the girls have had a wonderful time playing racing goats in the paddock, tag and jumping on large rocks with their furry friends.
“I even discovered Erika sleeping in the sun with the goats one day,” Laura said.
“The girls made their bottles every morning and night and worked together to mix milk for the self-feeder that was used during the day.
“They also had to take turns at cleaning the self-feeder that all three goats used.
Lilly was Paris’ first calf club goat.
“Unfortunately we can’t keep the goats after every season.”
After school they would give their goats pellets and play with them in the paddock.
Older sister Michelle, 13, also got involved.
She set up a ring with a ramp, rounds of wood and planks to walk over.
After a successful Pāterangi School agricultural day, the trio entered the combined agricultural day in Kihikihi.
- Anna and Star placed first in rearing and was reserve champion for leading.
- Paris and Lilly were second in rearing, third in leading and sixth in most obvious pet.
- Erika and Midnight grabbed second place in rearing and fourth for most obvious pet.
At the Waikato Show boys and girls agriculture day, hosted in Hamilton at Claudelands showgrounds, the accolades kept coming. Laura said it was great to have Te Awamutu’s Wilma van der Hulst as a judge.
The trio and their goats won group of three, also taking home placings in their respective sections.
- Erika and Midnight (senior class): third in rearing, fifth in Most Obvious Pet
- Anna and Star (intermediate): third in rearing, fifth in Most Obvious Pet
- Paris and Lilly (junior): second in Most Obvious Pet, third in leading, fourth in rearing.
“[The girls] learn a lot from the goats, they learn responsibility. It may be dark outside and scary but they knew their goats had to be fed,” Laura said.
“It was a task that wasn’t just a day or two. They learnt to care for something that wasn’t themselves. They have gained knowledge on goat care as well.”
The Neilson-Smith sisters in the paddock with Midnight, Star and Lilly.
The Neilson-Smith sisters won group of three at the Waikato Show.
