Barraba Central School Ag Excursion to Beef 20204
Stage 6 Agriculture Excursion
It was an early start for the Stage 6 Agriculture class on Wednesday 8th May, when they left at 6am to make the 11 hour trip to Rockhampton for 2024 Beef Week. On our journey, we learnt facts about Goondiwindi, Condamine and Banana as well as playing some competitive eye spy, answering Ag questions and sleeping. When we arrived in Rocky, we set off on our first group shopping trip before continuing the last hour to Byfield where our accommodation was. Our accommodation at Castle Rock Farm consisted of dorm style accommodation for the boys and glamping on the Eco deck for the girls. We had open showers with views of the rain forest, a fire pit and an amazing communal kitchen and entertainment area which hosted our first dinner of Pizza.
The second day consisted of bacon and egg rolls for breakfast and a hot dog production line for lunches. We headed into Rocky for the first day of Beef Week where we had an amazing day walking around all the stalls and cattle sheds at beef week, learning about the history of different breeds of beef cattle. The students had conversations with Universities, agricultural experts and reps which were unfortunately cut short due to some humid coastal rain conditions making our day pretty wet. After another quick shopping trip and frequenting the honesty box roadside stalls for pineapples, we headed home for Spag Bowl, garlic bread and Cobens ag excursion tradition of fire baked cinnamon and sugar pineapples.
Day 3 saw us have a slow start with breakfast and then heading back into Rocky for day two of Beef week. We saw many things that some of us missed on day 2, which included the technology in Agriculture tent and demos of horsemen and cattle breeds. After lunch we headed over to the coastal town of Yeppoon where the students had a chance to swim in the man-made lagoon and a quick dip in the ocean until Amie and Mrs Bennett remembered we are in croc territory and swiftly removed the students from the water. On the way home we frequented more roadside stalls buying bananas, jams and plants. When we got home the students explored the grounds of the accommodation where they found guavas, coconuts, mandarins, oranges, banana plants and there are rumours that a dam and boat were also explored.
Day 4 saw us depart the accommodation at 3:15am to hit the road back home. Arriving safely back at school by 2:45pm after lots of laughs, sleeping and McDonalds.
We would like to thank all the parents, students and staff for their efforts in making this excursion go ahead. The students had the opportunity to gain valuable information in all aspects of the Agricultural industry.
Mrs Bennett, Agriculture Teacher