MANDY SMITH If the saying "never work with animals or children" is true, then Les Vesty has the worst job imaginable. The co-ordinator of the Farmlands animal world at the Hawke's Bay Show says the event takes about four months to organise, with entries from as far afield as Feilding. Hesays animals are a major drawcard for children at the annual event. "We're trying to get animals back into the show - the more varied creatures we get, the better it is." This year, it's a veritable zoo with emus, coloured sheep, highland cattle, alpacas and goats rattling in their cages. "But it's the babies that are always the favourites - the lambs and calves," Mr Vesty said. Highland cattle-owner Sharon Russell, from Porati, keeps Fraggle, Fozzy, and Rok as pets. If you notice a recurring theme in the names, it's because Sharon's a major Muppets fan. "They're very affectionate before they get their horns," she said. "Sometimes they'll give a bit of a kick out sideways but generally they're calm and placid and more than happy to be groomed." Like children, the trio can get stroppy, Ms Russell says. "You know what moods they're in by the sound of their moo and if one's doing something they shouldn't be, they'll tell on each other." When asked how much they weigh, Ms Russell's brother, Ian, says "too much when they're standing on your foot." Fellow owner Graham Mills says there's a small community of highland cattle keepers in Hawke's Bay - generally with one or two cattle each - but they smell each other out. "Highland cattle are social creatures and so are the people who own them." The Hawke's Bay Show runs today until Friday at the Hawke's Bay showgrounds in Hastings.
