A creative Hamilton schoolgirl triumphed in a national mascot design competition – winning a memorable farm visit for her schoolmates plus the chance to name newborn dairy calves.
Pupils from Quarter Primary had the chance to learn about milk production and even tried their hand at making cheese and taking part in a taste test during a special visit to nearby Shotlinn Farm.
Their trip came courtesy of Quarter pupil Quinn, who was crowned as the winner of a Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) contest to design a cow mascot which will be used on the organisation’s education resources, made available to schools across Scotland.
All of the school’s pupils travelled to the farm, located between Hamilton and Glassford, for the memorable school trip where they were greeted by the Mackie family who run the farm.
They spent a busy morning seeing the dairy herd and finding out how milk is produced, before heading back to class for a hands-on workshop discovering how it is processed into cheese and getting involved by trying a range of difference cheeses.
Competition winner Quinn had an extra surprise during the day down on the farm when she was invited to name a new set of twin calves – who are now called Willow and Daisy.
Kris Paterson of RHET Clyde said: “Massive thanks to Shotlinn Farm for hosting this visit and enabling Quarter Primary pupils to experience where milk comes and answering the array of questions they put forward, and thanks to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board for supporting our All Things Dairy project.”
Quinn’s winning mascot design was selected from a huge range of creative entries to the rural education charity’s competition, which forms part of its current All Things Dairy initiative aiming to “raise awareness and understanding of the industry in young people and teachers”.
RHET education officer Katrina Barclay said: “Engaging schools and young people with food and farming though a wide variety of experiences makes for long-lasting memories and a better understanding of where food comes from and the people involved.”
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