Amber is studying agriculture at Cranebrook High School. She lives and breathes alpacas and looks forward to realising her dream of becoming a vet

1. Cranebrook
High School
2010

2. Hi, I am Amber .
I am a Yr 9
Agriculture student
at Cranebrook High
School. Hi, my name
Welcome to our is
farm! Dolce.
Hi, my name
is
Louis.

3. Mrs Saxon and Mr
Hi
Murray are my
Hi agriculture
I’m Mr I’m Mrs teachers.
Murray. Saxon.
They are two in a
million.
They make school
and learning so
much fun.
They encourage,
inspire and
motivate us and
we now share
their passion and
dedication to the
school farm and
I’m Dolce and our animals.
these are the
They deserve a
best teachers huge thanks!
ever!!

4. Our school has many animals,
including a steer, named Moss.
We also have sheep, chickens,
ducks and alpacas.

5. I’m I’m
Package. Party.

6. We have hens and pullets on
our farm. Each year the school
buys a new clutch of chicks for
year 9 students to study during
the year. We study the growth
of the chicks, weigh them and
observe them.
Wow they grow fast. They now
have fully grown feathers and
all lay eggs .
The abundance of eggs they lay
means a special treat for the
students who can take the eggs
home.
I often take home a carton of
eggs each week. Our chickens
are free range, get lots of green
grass and are very healthy. I
think they taste a lot better
than commercially grown eggs.

7.  I love studying agriculture, it’s so much fun and learning about topics like
sustainability, alpacas and sheep, is great!
 Of course I adore the animals! We learn to care for them and understand the
responsibility we have to ensure they are happy and healthy. Each animal has their
own personality and needs, just like humans.
 We are offered so many fantastic opportunities in agriculture! A highlight is taking
part in the Penrith Show, where everyone can help out and understand the
preparation and techniques required to show animals at a high level .

8.  This year
Cranebrook showed
their sheep, steer
and alpacas at the
show.
 I love showing the
animals. It’s great
experience for
taking our Alpaca
team to the Sydney
Royal Easter Show!
 We also create
fantastic, “out-of-
the-box” displays,
called ‘District
Exhibits’.

9.  In 2010 Cranebrook created a display for the Penrith Show, using two life-
size fibreglass steers.
 We painted them and dressed them up to look like a couple at a cafe.
 One of our steers wore black pants, glasses and a bow tie.
 The other wore a beautiful, pink skirt, frills and bow on head.

10.  At the show the steers ate a
huge chicken-burger and
slurped a strawberry
milkshake, which we also
created for the display.
 We were very excited when
our display received third
place.
 At the show our alpacas and
sheep also received third
prize.

12. I’m a Jersey
dairy cow
and it’s
milking
time!
This year we visited Hurlstone Agricultural College and Leppington
Pastoral Company.
Here we learnt hands on about the production of food and how to
manage a farm.
We watched cows being milked, bulls being weighed, sheep
being drenched and animals being fed.
A day full of fun!!!!

13.  We have had many people visit
our school in the past, and this
year we were lucky to have
industry experts come to visit.
 Wendy Taylor and Lynne Strong
came to talk to us about the
Archibull journey.
 Lynne told us about her farm
and their journey to be
sustainable.
 Wendy is an architect she
opened our eyes to the endless
ways we can share our love of
agriculture with the wider
Wendy Lynne
community through art and
design.

15. I produced
Cranebrook’s
first ever
stud alpaca!
Cranebrook High School
has recently become
an alpaca stud farm.
We were very proud
of this achievement
and these animals
have become a major
part of the school
agricultural program.

16. I’m
Cranebrook’s
first ever
stud alpaca
to be born at  We visit the Easter
school! Show annually to get a
feel of what it is like to
own, prepare and
show a good quality
animal.
 Now that Cranebrook
High is officially an
alpaca stud, we are
I’m his
mum! hoping to participate
in the Sydney Royal
Easter Show in 2011.

17. Mum Dad
When we talk about
an alpaca stud farm,
we are talking about
the fact that all our
Stud alpacas are bred for
Cria
quality and are
purebred with
complete pedigrees
A pedigree is having
documented proof of
Warralinga the generation to
Chachani Intis
Celtic Lad generation ancestral
Amber Dawn
blood line of the
(Dolce) (Lives at animal, as proof of
Warralinga Alpaca
(Lives at Stud) being a pure-bred.
Cranebrook High) Crane Brook
Louis
“image-Warralinga Stud Alpacas”

18. Dolce’s
Dad
Dolce’s
Mum

20. Why not?
Look how
cute and
cuddly I am
 Our alpacas are very well tempered, beautiful creatures.
 Not only that their wool is amazing quality and they are very
intriguing animals to watch.
 Their behaviour is different to that of other animals, they stay
together and act like a family.
 Alpacas produce wool in many different colours so bleaching is
rarely necessary. It has no lanolin so no cleaning is required
and their hooves are padded.

21. During class I have learnt about the wool quality of alpacas and I
was very privileged to talk to Warralinga Alpaca Stud Farm
owners, Lyn and Graeme.
The crimp, density, staple length, lustre, micron, contamination
and handle of the wool were the main focus in our class.

22. (Soo-ri) (Wuh-kai-ya)
Aragon Alpacas Peaceful Pasture Alpacas
There are two kinds of alpacas.
Huacaya alpacas have short, sheep like wool. Their fleece grows in bundles of
staples, has crimp and grows out from the body so the animal has a well
rounded full look when in full fleece. Cranebrook High owns Huacaya’s.
Suri alpacas have long, dread-lock like wool. Their fleece grows in pencil-lock
staples, has no crimp and falls straight down from the body, giving the
animal a more slender appearance when in full fleece than a Huacaya.

23. During National Alpaca Week (1st-9th May 2010) our teachers
encouraged us to visit alpaca stud farms. I visited a few,
including Warralinga, Codan and Gunnamatta, and it was a
great experience. I listened to talks and got to see the
day-to-day running of quality alpaca studs. The quality of the
alpacas was of a high standard and our school has set a
standard to breed quality stud animals.

25. The following
information tells you
The quality of Alpaca just a little about
wool is what what the students
determines it’s price, learnt about my wool.
enhances it’s chances Please note that it is
of winning at shows cria (baby) fleece
and improves overall though, and hasn't
appearance. reached its peak.

26. Crimp
• Crimp: is the natural wave formation of the
wool. The more waves in a fibre, the easier
the wool holds together when being spun,
therefore better quality.

27. • Lustre: the shine of the wool. The more
lustrous the wool the better the appearance,
the better the quality.
Look at my wool
shine!!
Isn’t it gorgeous?

28. I only have cria
fleece, but just
you wait until I’m
a big boy... I’ll be
dense and
handsome!!
• Density: the quantity of wool fibres. The
higher the density on an alpaca determines
the amount the wool on the body. Obviously
the more wool the better.

29. Can you see the
wool fibres?
There are several
of them and look
how thin they are!!
Does the
black line
help?
• Micron: the diameter of wool fibres. The finer
the wool, the softer it feels and the more
products it can be used for. Good fleece is
between 16-25 microns.

30. • Staple Length: the length in which the wool
fibres grow between shearing. The longer the
wool fibres the easier it can be spun, therefore
the better the quality.
Wool should grow
approximately 10mm
a month and should
be 120mm after one
year.

31. Sorry you can’t
feel his wool, but
I’ll tell you that’s
it’s so soft and
just like silk!!
• Handle: The softness and feel of the wool. If
the wool feels softer it is more likely to be less
contaminated with dirt, contain less grease
and have more use. The softer the wool the
better.

32. Any material that is
not wool is said to be
a contaminant and
must be removed
before the wool is
spun.
• Contamination: the foreign materials in the wool.
If the wool is contaminated the quality is
reduced. It takes time and money to remove it
and the wool is less valuable.
So the lower the contamination the more money
our wool can bring.

33. I love you
mummy!

34.  When showing an alpaca
it’s wool should not
brushed or washed as
the wool fibres can be
damaged.
 Nails should be clipped
so they do not curl over
the hoof.
 The confirmation of an The correct
alpaca is important. confirmation will
 The length of it’s neck ensure correct
posture, joint
should be two-thirds of movement and
it’s back, while the same breeding.
length as it’s legs.

35. In agriculture I
learnt how to
halter, walk,
I can judge and
halter
an work with
alpaca! alpacas.
I have also
been lucky to
show the
alpacas at
the Penrith
Show and
see the
alpacas being
shorn.

36. Caring for our alpacas is very
important. We look after them by
feeding them and providing them
with water and shelter.
We also drench them to prevent
internal parasites, vaccinate them
for diseases, clip their nails and
shear their fleece.

37.  I enjoyed the experience of drenching the alpacas. It was a
difficult task but I learnt how to safely handle them.
 Shearing was exciting too. It is done completely different than
sheep and other wool animals. I was asked to hold the
alpacas head during shearing and talk to them and comfort
them. It was lots of fun.
 We learnt that husbandry practices are important to keep
animals safe and healthy, not just alpacas but our steer,
chickens, ducks and sheep as well.

38. Yves (female cria) Currently Cranebrook owns six alpacas, two
of which are pregnant, two of which are
male cria’s (baby alpacas) and a female
cria.
Our alpacas are are all named after designer
brands.
Gianni Dolce Zannetti Calvin (male) Louis (male)

39. This is
Yves, our
newest
Born on the
12th
arrival
December
2010

40. Look I am only
an hour old and I
can run!!
Where is my
mummy?

41. You look
nice.
Are you
my mum?

42. This is my
mum.
She looks just
like me don't
This is my mum.
you think?
You’ve got your
dad in you too!
Look at that
white neck!!

46.  While learning about the animals and
plants on our farm, we also learnt
about the environmental impacts they
have on agriculture.
 I learnt about erosion, water
availability, pests, soil compaction,
weeds, disease and infection, pollution
and much more.
 We learnt what each impact was, how
it occurred, how it could be prevented
and how to ensure the environment
was sustainable.
Image- Landlearn NSW - Flickr

47. Unfortunately our much loved
alpaca, Prada, died recently,
from a neurological bacteria
infection. Although this was
a heartbreaking event for
the school the experiences
learnt from her death are
important .
Students now appreciate the
role of a vet (which I wish to
become) and learnt the
steps needed to take care of
a sick or injured animal.

48. No worries!
At Cranebrook Agriculture Farm we
don’t do just animals.
We own a greenhouse, where we grow
bonsais, native plants and
vegetables.
Near our chicken shed we have an
orchard with lemon trees. We also
have a huge garden area, where
students can plant any fruit,
vegetable or flower they wish.
This allows students to grow their
own plants, learn about agriculture
and take home the finished product.
It is always heaps of fun!

50.  During the year I was able to participate in fundraising activities.
 These activities enabled the school to raise money to maintain our school
farm.
 Our main school fundraiser for agriculture is the Farm Services day, where
students and teachers went to Farm Services and cooked a BBQ for
breakfast and lunch.
 The team at Farm Services gave an informative talk on fencing. We learnt
how to set up electric fences safely.
http://www.farmservices.com.au/

51.  The ag team at Cranebrook have held many BBQ’s
and events at school to help support agriculture.
 These events are always great fun and help me
realise the importance of teacher and community
support for our farm.

52.  Agriculture is an elective in
year 9 and the first subject I
chose.
 Some people think I am
wasting my time studying
agriculture.
 To them I say “ By studying
agriculture I am playing an
active role in creating a
better future for
Australians.”

53.  I believe all young Australians like me should
be provided with the education and
opportunities to build their knowledge on the
Learning about
production of the food they consume,
me shows how
clothing they wear and products they use.
fibre is
 I know that issues such as climate change, produced and
population, land use and water availability are how I impact
all on the rise and are becoming increasingly environments
important to Australians.
 Only by teaching students the skills and
knowledge of production, marketing and
consumption can they be equipped,
motivated and ready to make decisions
about the challenges facing modern
Agriculture.
 Not only is it one of the most important
subjects to study it’s so much fun, the
animals are great and our teachers are
supportive, motivating and inspiring.

55. I wish to become a vet
when I leave school.
Studying Agriculture
has given me great
insights into working
with animals and
motivated me to work
hard to achieve my
goal.
We think
Amber will
be the best
vet ever

56. Working with alpacas is
amazing. They are so
intriguing. We learnt things
that are fun,
interesting and
will help us in
Our incredible Everything the future.
teachers are is hands
encouraging, on.
motivating and
passionate.
Cranebrook
loves their
animals.
The students
are taught
about animals
and plants,
which is
great!

57. Hey mummy,
look!!
They’re taking
pictures of me..
Does my nose
look big?

58. Just one more
photo mummy

59. Goodbye... I hope you
I hope you agree love alpacas
with us now, that like
agriculture isn’t Cranebrook
just fun but a loves us!!
rewarding and
worthy subject
for the future of
students too!!!

60. Thanks for
Studying watching.
Agriculture? Hope you
Time well enjoyed our
spent, farm!!
wouldn’t you
say!!
Bye.

61. WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSORS OF THE
2010 CREAM OF THE CROP COMPETITION
PLATINUM GOLD SILVER
BRONZE