Big heart powers tiny Pirinoa School

Farmers and the wider community swung in behind the tiny Pirinoa School Fat Lamb competition.

In a fundraiser for the South Wairarapa school - a school with two teachers and 28 pupils - farmers turned up on Friday at Gleniti Yards each with three of their finest lambs, the winner being the farmer whose lamb was judged to be the "optimum lamb". Funds raised went towards extra teacher-aides for the school.

The lambs left behind after judging were then sent to the freezing works and the money raised donated to the school.

Although farmers were only asked to donate one lamb - as a competition "entry fee" - in a show of support for the school, most left all three behind.

Prizes for the winners included $200 worth of tools and a truckload of bark for third place, a John Deere push lawn mower for second along with a trophy, $1000 of clothing and a $350 Wellington voucher for the winner, courtesy of Johnson Brothers, Tait & McKenzie, Wairarapa Machinery and Keinzley Agvet respectively.

The winner was Kurt Porters, closely followed for second by Ed Handyside and third equal were Guy Didsbury and Roddy Sutherland.

Kurt Porters was humble in victory, speaking of the importance of fundraising for the school.

"It's a good community fundraiser to help the school," he said.

Organiser David Hume was unsure how much money had been raised, but was certain it was a good amount. "It's good to see the sponsors and the farmers willing to put something into the community. It's a fantastic response."

Also helping raise funds was a uniquely rural form of bingo, known variously as either Bovine or Cow Pie Bingo. Three of the Pirinoa School cattle were released into a paddock marked off into 25 squares, which willing punters paid $20 each for.

Whoever owned the square where one of the cows decided "to do its business" first was the winner.