The 2019 Sydney Royal Easter Show will have a Manning presence after Chatham High School was selected as a representative for the district produce exhibition.
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The school will represent the Central District, an area that stretches from the Central Coast to Coffs Harbour.
Students will put together an exhibit under the guidance of agriculture teacher Yan Kleynhans, who was thrilled by the school’s selection.
“It came as a surprise but it’s really great.
“This will be a great experience for the kids and we can get other students in that are not normally involved.
“Our planning starts now,” Yan said.
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Chatham High will have the honour for three years and will be one of five schools from across NSW to have an exhibit.
Yan said part of the developing the exhibit will be covering a backboard with glue and painstakingly sticking produce (such as seeds) to it.
“The entire display must be made of produce like wool and seeds,” Yan said.
He said the students will have six days to create the exhibit and will use about 600 kilograms of produce.
“We’ll be the first display people see as they walk into the tent,” Yan said.
“We don’t have to grow everything ourselves, some can be brought in like sunflower seeds.”
Yan added that the school’s art teachers will be involved to help with the design of the display.
The theme of the school’s exhibit is yet to be decided.
A second team from the school will attend to take part in the cattle show.
He added that the students have formed their own agriculture committee at the school.
“It’s really good for their leadership development,” Yan said.
It came as a surprise but it’s really great.
- Yan Kleynhans, Chatham High School agriculture teacher
“They’re a great bunch of kids.”
Yan said the school will continue to showcase cattle, produce and sheep at shows around the area, NSW and interstate.
“We are also keen to do poultry,” Yan said.
The agriculture students will attend the Brisbane Show next month.
“This will be their third of the year,” Yan said.
All the activities certifiy Yan’s philosophy of the value of agriculture to the Manning.
“I truly believe agriculture is the future for kids in this area, whether they work on a farm or produce their own,” Yan said.