Dairy New Zealand has launched it's Go Dairy education programme at the Fieldays at Mystery Creek, including its "cowbassador", Rosie.
Head of communications Sarah Fraser said the initiative was about education and raising awareness. Involved in the Rosie the cow concept since early planning stages a year ago, she said she
was happy to see it come to life.
"When the idea was first pitched to us, I knew I wanted to see Rosie here at this year's Fieldays and, now that she is, I couldn't be more thrilled.
"Rosie is a way for Go Dairy to promote Dairy New Zealand in an engaging and interesting way."
As an internet-based educational programme for primary school students, it includes a website with teaching units, digital texts and digital learning objects.
"The education website will use digital story books and games with a dairying context for learning," she said.
As a part of Rosie's cowbassador campaign, she will travel the country visiting primary schools to educate and raise awareness of the New Zealand dairy and cattle farming industries.
"It is for those who are not knowledgeable about the farming industry and do not have farming experience," she said.
The programme has already had positive feedback. "We have had a huge response from the general public and support from local farmers as well," she said.
People can follow Rosie on her travels through Facebook and the Go Dairy website and they can also discover facts and figures about her life on a farm.
Cowbassador Rosie and her VIB (Very Important Bovine) protection squad will be at the Go Dairy Fieldays stand every hour. Fieldays runs at Hamilton's Mystery Creek until June 18.
