YOU'D be hard-pressed finding a student who didn't relish the rare opportunity to skip school for the day - particularly when it's to roam the grounds of the beef industry's biggest event.
Just as well for enthusiastic duo Tim Eyes and Dwayne Schubert.
They were udderly thrilled when Meat & Livestock Australia enabled them and three other Art4Ag Young Farming Champions to chew the fat at Rockhampton, taking school tours around as part of the Beef Australia 2015 Schools Program.
"Our role is to try and teach them something about the beef industry in Australia and make sure they have a good day outside of school," Dwayne said.
Luckily for the lads, they have some big names in the yards to help them out.
"I've got a very special friend here today. You might know him; his name is George the Farmer," Dwayne says, introducing the popular farming character to the eager group of 30 primary school children seated before them.
"Can we all give him a big 'moo' welcome?"
His invitation attracts what sounds like a bellowing herd of calves - thanks to an animated chorus of school children.
The group then follows a guided plan as set out by Beef Australia's School Programs Coordinator Melanie Kirk.
They visit a variety of stands including Herefords Australia, the Queensland Stock Squad, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Cattle Vets and the Coles Kids in the Kitchen where they partake in cooking demonstrations.
Thousands of school children were involved in the program over the course of Beef Week, coming from areas including Rockhampton, Wowan and even a group of home-schooled students.
"It's really just a good way to provide the basic understanding of where food comes from," Dwayne explained.
"We're not trying to overload them with lots of facts, if they could take away two things from our whole day that they didn't know before I think we're doing pretty good."
And how well did the guides hold up after a massive Beef Australia 2015?
"Taking 30 people around beef week is a bit of a mission," Dwayne laughed.
Obviously with Tim and I not having kids ourselves and not having a teaching background it was a bit of an eye opener for us.
"But thankfully Mel Kirk and MLA did an amazing job - without them it wouldn't have been possible."
Andrea Crothers
Town & Country editor for Queensland Country Life.
Town & Country editor for Queensland Country Life.
