A calf sale is being held to encourage more youth into cattle handling.
Stratford A&P Show Dairy section president Paul Vanner, also on the A&P Show executive, says the inaugural Stratford Next Generation Sale is being held in conjunction with the Waikato show and New Zealand Dairy Event.
During the sale, 25 calves will be up for auction, providing an opportunity for youth to get their hands on well-bred calves to handle and show in the future.
Paul says breeders are asked to sell a calf at the sale. The purchaser will become a member of the futurity club and go on to show the animal as a calf, yearling or a two year old.
He wants to encourage youth to build greater passion in showing cattle and some good prize money can be won, especially in the two-year-old class. The animals are registered with n breeders societies so they can be used to breed from.
Because of the threat of M. Bovis, the dairy section of the Stratford Show was cancelled this year. Precautions will be taken, with calves put into separate stalls.
■ The sale is being held on November 23 at the Stratford Showgrounds, with a barbecue at 6pm and the sale at 7pm.