Cows Create Careers has started in 10 schools on the Fleurieu.

The project takes calves into the classroom and gives students and teachers an opportunity to get hands-on dairy experience, under the guidance of local farmers and industry representatives.

There are just less than 100 dairy farms on the Fleurieu, which together milk approximately 20,000 cows twice a day and produce approximately 136 million litres.

On the Fleurieu alone this equals approximately $61.2 million at the farm gate.

Every day in Australia there are approximately 1.8 million cows milked twice a day with a total farm gate value of $3.2 billion, making dairying Australia's third largest rural industry.

Every year a dairy cow must have a calf to continue its milk supply and students will learn more about dairy cows and the dairy industry.

On Monday, May 12 local farmers delivered calves to schools in the region.

A hungry calf's cry is hard to ignore and students will start to learn the importance of caring for a young calf.

Before the calves are delivered, students will have learnt about many aspects of dairy farming, right from cow nutrition, animal health and pasture management through to the manufacturing process of the final product - milk, cheese, yoghurt etc.

The Cows Create Careers project runs over eight weeks and can be introduced in a variety of subjects.

The project has two sets of curriculum material depending on the year level.

The schools involved are: Murraylands Christian and Investigator colleges, Yankalilla Area, Eastern Fleurieu, Victor Harbor High, Willunga High, Mount Compass Area, Victor Harbor R-7, Goolwa Primary and Port Elliot Primary schools.

In teams of four to five, students will prepare a data show presentation, research poster, newsletter and a thank you letter/report to the dairy farmers and mentors who have been involved at their school.

The students' work is submitted to Cows Create Careers project team who arrange for a national judging panel to assess students' work and provide a written report back to teachers and schools.

A presentation day is held at the end of the project.

All students, teachers, mentors and farmers who participate are invited to this celebration and receive a certificate of participation.

Prizes and awards are on offer for the overall winning school and team in the region.

The presentation day will be held on Friday June 27 and will conclude with a lunch for all participants.

The Mount Compass Dairy Careers committee, consisting of local people associated with dairies and education, has helped with the project.

It is supported by DairySA and Dairy Australia with sponsorship from the Victor Harbor Rotary Club and Lions Clubs of Yankalilla, Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, Goolwa and Willunga. Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, Laucke Mills, Shoof International, Compass Feeds and the ANZ Bank Victor Harbor.

Cows Create Careers is a Strzelecki Lions Club project which was established in 2004 to promote education and career opportunities in the dairy industry, for students (years 7-11).

If you would like further information contact Terry Maloney on 08 8556 8209 or John Hutchison on 03 5659 4219.