Two calves at Eaton Community College help teach students about the dairy industry

Students at Eaton Community College are currently are learning about the dairy industry in a very hands-on way. The students are learning animal husbandry by taking care of two three-week-old calves at the school, named Ben and Jerry by year seven students after the ice cream brand. Dairy Australia and Western Dairy teamed up through the Cows Create Careers project to give secondary students across the region the chance to learn about dairy industry careers in a hands-on way for three weeks. Dairy Australia and Western Dairy said a local dairy farmer was also teaching the students how to care for the calves and demonstrate skills such as animal husbandry, feeding and weighing, with an industry advocate also visiting the students to speak about their careers in the dairy industry. Each school has been provided with a dairy industry curriculum for years seven to 11 at no cost, and students form teams to complete industry-based assessments. Jaydee Events director John Hutchison said the innovative project highlighted the diversity of skills and professional careers within Australia’s vibrant dairy industry. “Cows Create Careers allows students to engage with the dairy industry in a fun and hands-on way — all while highlighting the range of university, vocational and professional pathways within the industry,” he said.