21 March 2017
Pay it forward with AFFCO bobby calf scheme
Schools and fire services are at the heart of every rural community. With AFFCO’s bobby calf scheme you could say thank
you to yours.
Last year saw AFFCO reach the $1 million mark donated to rural communities since the donation scheme started out in
2006.
National Livestock Manager Tom Young, says that it’s often AFFCO’s farmer suppliers that volunteer at rural fire
brigades and schools, and rural people are reliant on them to bring their communities together, look out for families,
and keep them safe.
“AFFCO has been donating to rural primary schools since 2006 through our Bobby Calf Cash for Schools and in 2013 in
response to supplier feedback we introduced the option to nominate their rural fire brigade.”
“Bobby calves are a fact of life on a dairy farm, and with this scheme everyone wins. We work hard to get the best value
for our suppliers; bobby calves are picked up on a very regular schedule and processed fast; and we pay it forward to
our communities with our donations at the end of each season.”
Each season the suppliers fill out a registration form and at the bottom of the form they simply nominate their school
or fire brigade. AFFCO donates 40 cents for every calf supplied to the nominated recipient which is a donation by AFFCO
and doesn’t come out of the schedule payment.
In December schools receive a payment from AFFCO with a statement of who supplied the calves. The New Zealand Fire
Service is given a donation and they distribute payments to their volunteer brigades.
In 2016 a total of $28,000 was donated to fire brigades and a further $75,000 to rural schools.
Farmers will be receiving their registration forms by mail shortly, or they can download them from
www.affco.co.nz/bobbycalves, phone 0800 722 422 or contact their AFFCO/SPM buyer. Registrations are due on 1 May in the
North Island and 1 June in the South Island.
ENDS