 LIC's Guide to Calf Club
Each year, in rural schools around New Zealand, a day is held with one purpose - to encourage children to take an active interest in the welfare and presentation of an animal of their choice for a community day at their school.
Originally the day was known as Calf Club even though children exhibited animals like lambs and goats. Today, with fewer children having access to ‘farm animals’ the day has become known, in some areas, as Pet, Livestock or Agriculture Day, with events for all classes of animals, pets and handcrafts.
LIC is involved in the dairy, beef, deer and sheep industries and recognises that there are young farmers who work hard each year to select, prepare and show young animals at their school Calf Club days.
If you are planning to acquire and show a calf or lamb at your local Calf Club, this page will give you some guidelines which will help you select, train and show your pet – and ensure you both enjoy the experience.
A history of Calf Club
 Dairy cows came to New Zealand on sailing ships with early settlers during the 1800s. By the early 1900s, the industry was prospering and growing with farmers joining together to form herd testing co-operatives (which would, in time, become today’s LIC) and dairy factories to process the milk their herd produced. The earliest recording of the forerunner of today’s calf club was in 1911, when the Boys and Agricultural Group began in Otago.
As the adult side of the industry grew, so too did the junior. The natural partnership of children and young animals was encouraged as farmers recognised the benefits to be gained by children having the responsibility of training and caring for a young animal. In regions around the country, the enthusiasm of farming parents combined with local schools to provide an atmosphere which gave life to Calf Club.
And so it has been for nearly 100 years. Many of today’s (and yesterday’s) dairy farmers look back with affection at the time they spent selecting, feeding and training calves for Calf Club. The benefits derived from involvement in Calf Club extend beyond the dairy industry to personal qualities which have value in many spheres of life – motivation, commitment, responsibility and compassion.
Today Calf Club, or its modern equivalent, is held each year in a large number of schools across New Zealand dependent on the support and patronage of generally rural communities and their supporting structures.
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