Calf charity returns to farmers

Calves donated for charity yesterday turned into cash cows for a pair of South Wairarapa farms.

Jim and Pauline Hedley and Eric Snoek have for several years annually donated a calf each from their Kahutara farms to the PGG Wrightson and IHC Raise A Calf scheme, they said yesterday.

This year their charity returned in the form of a $500 prize voucher for each farm.

IHC North Island co-ordinator Marie Macer said the scheme is the biggest income generator for the IHC that nationwide distributes 30 spot prize vouchers of $500 each to be spent at Williams and Kettle.

Ms Macer said two prizes are allocated to each of 15 regions around the country with every farmer who donates a calf able to enter that calf's ear tag into the prize draw.

PGG Wrightson and the IHC have been working together on the Raise a Calf scheme for 25 years, she said.

"The money goes toward non-government-funded services for things like advocacy, family support and holiday programmes."

Both the Hedleys and Mr Snoek agree the important element in the scheme is the benefit it gives to the IHC organisation, especially those in need who live in Wairarapa and other rural areas of the country.

"We're happy to donate to the IHC and it's nice that the kids benefit," Mrs Hedley said. "We've been donating calves for several years and we're very lucky to have won this a second time."

"It's great that the money from our calf will benefit the Wairarapa again," she said.

The Hedley's daughter, Meg, who is involved with the IHC, thinks it's "pretty cool" her parents help out.

"We facilitate the programme so that farmers donate one or more calves a year and then we sell them on behalf of the IHC," PGG Wrightson Wairarapa district manager Duncan Fletcher said.

"Calves are sold for around $500 and we raise around $1 million per year," he said.

"IHC is one of the few organisations that goes into the rural communities where support services are really needed."

Mr Snoek, who has worked as a farmer for 13 years, said it is important to give back.

"The kids need as much support as possible," he said."Those that are blessed should help those less fortunate."