Kiwis' love of lamb worth celebrating

New Zealanders have named the traditional Kiwi roast lamb dinner their favourite dish.

Lamb days

National Lamb Day seems to be growing legs as it nears its second commemoration on February 15.

Initiated by Beef + Lamb NZ a year ago, it marks the anniversary of the first shipment of frozen New Zealand lamb from Port Chalmers in 1882.

Ahead of the momentous event, New Zealanders have named the traditional Kiwi roast lamb dinner their favourite dish.

In an online survey that drew 1101 responses, roast lamb was ranked ahead of other Kiwi classics, such as fish and chips and shepherd's pie.

Maccas and the Colonel's finest, it seems, were not included.

Lamb was also the No1 choice of meat for 42 per cent, outranking other Kiwi staples such as beef, pork and chicken.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Rod Slater said: "Our country is renowned for our lamb and we think it's the best in the world. Not only that but it's part of our heritage, it's what many of us grew up on."

But we are not the only ones celebrating.

The US has National Roast Leg of Lamb Day on May 7, sandwiched between national Crepe Suzette Day (May 6) and National Coconut Cream Pie Day (May 8).

It is towards the end of National Raisin Week.

May will be their National Barbecue, Loaded Potato, Chocolate Custard, Egg, Hamburger, Salad, Salsa and Strawberry month.

The first Saturday in May is National Homebrew Day, and the third Monday and the rest of the week is American Craft Beer Week.

Today, by the way, is National Homemade Soup Day and National Stuffed Mushroom Day, so there's food for thought.

Field Days

More than 550 displays are expected at the Central Districts Field Day in Feilding on March 17-19.

Key attractions during the three days include the rural lifestyle pavilion focusing on rural homes and family, the Massey University agricultural pavilion, agricultural machinery demonstrations, vintage tractor and machinery displays, and a range of championships.

There's the tractor pull, the National Excavator Championships, and the Central Districts doubles power fencing competition.

Big day out

The sums for the Shearing Big Day Out in support of the Cancer Society and held on January 4 at Waitara Station, north of Te Pohue, have been done.

The event, which saw more than 4000 sheep being shorn, despite rain throughout the day outside, raised $30,554.73.

The figure was announced by Heiniger Shearing representative Tony Hoggard at the Taihape A and P Show last Saturday.