Cows in class

Oaklands Milk

MEDIA RELEASE – 22nd August 2014

Cows in class.

Nelson dairy farmer Julian Raine is bringing the country into the city, when he teams up next week with the Fonterra Milk for Schools Programme and Victory Primary School. A cow and a calf from Oakland’s, Mr Raine’s family farm, owned and worked by his ancestors since 1842, will visit the school on the morning of Monday 25th August.

The initiative is part of the Victory School’s Year 5 Integrated Study, “From Paddock to Puku”.

Victory School, Deputy Principal, Mr Sullivan, says “The idea for this terms integrated study came from our schools involvement in the Fonterra Milk for Schools Programme, it was important for the students to learn more about where milk comes from and it’s health benefits, together with the cultural and environmental effects of drinking milk.”

Mr Raine, a long-term advocate for education of the farming and dairy industry, has for many years invited groups of school children to tour the dairy. His commitment to re-education and awareness of where milk comes from has led to the incorporation of a new glass-fronted viewing room at the farm. A facility that Mr Sullivan hopes his students will be able to take advantage of prior to the end of their integrated study.

Oakland’s Farm has been supplying milk to Fonterra for many years, but last year Mr Raine also began selling farm fresh milk, from his A2 dairy herd, at the Oakland’s farm gate. The service rapidly expanded into Nelson City, and within a few months vending machines were installed at the rear of Vanilla Café and Eat Me Fruit and Vege on St Vincent St.

Mr Raine says, “Over the last year we’ve taken steps to ensure some of our milk is kept for local distribution. For one hundred and fifty years our farm has been part of the community, as custodians of Oakland’s we see this educational venture as an important step in continuing to forge our relationship with local families.”

Ends.

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