Farmer Joe Dugdale teamed up with primary school children to come up with a winning design for his new glass milk bottles.
More than 200 children created special designs for Crathorne Farm Dairy's new bottle with a Clemmie the Calfacorn design to celebrate the dairy's half calf half unicorn mascot.
The winner was seven year old Excel, from Reid Street Primary School in Darlington, who was rewarded with a special trip to the dairy along with all her classmates to meet the calves and get a chance to taste the milk shakes.
Joe said: "It is great to be able to give children the opportunity to get out into the countryside and learn where their food comes from. Designing our new milk bottle for customers seemed like a wonderful way to engage more children."
Joe collaborated with Jane Corbett, the Teesside Farm Discovery Coordinator for the Country Trust, an educational charity connecting primary school children from areas of high social and economic disadvantage to the land through free food, farming and countryside experiences.
Children were invited to bring the mythical "Clemmie the Calfacorn" to life through their artwork. Joe teamed up with local artist Clare Baird, designer of the Crathorne Farm Dairy bottles.
Class teacher Charlotte Melloy said: "We all really enjoyed the trip and parents not having to pay transport costs was of huge benefit. This was an opportunity our children would not usually get and their enthusiasm and learning about farming has continued in the classroom for weeks since our visit. We cannot thank them enough."
Joe and Jane went to Reid Street Primary to present Excel with her winning milk bottle design. "I was so excited to win. And the chocolate milk shake was delicious," she said.
Country Trust coordinator Jane, has worked alongside Joe delivering school visits to Grange Farm for the past two years. She said: “I jumped at the chance when Joe asked if I would promote his competition to the schools I work alongside.
"It has been a heartwarming project. Reid Street Primary School has no direct access to green space so for them to visit Joe’s farm, meet the cows, explore the countryside and run in fields are magic moments that many of the children would not normally experience."
Excel’s winning milk bottle is available alongside the farm’s milk and milk shakes, from The Milk Hut in Crathorne, near Yarm.
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