Photo: Glenneis Kriel
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Bredenkamp said he was unaware that teachers had submitted entries on behalf of the school but was thrilled with their initiative and the exposure it created for his learners.
“The Farmer Patent Competition is one of my favourite exhibits at Nampo Cape, and seeing entries from my own school made it even more special. It is always amazing to see how farmers and learners think creatively to solve real-world problems,” he added.
Alongside Pioneer School, which caters for learners from Grade R to Grade 12 and has a special-needs division, entries in this year’s competition were received from Oakdale Agricultural School in Riversdale, Swartland High School in Malmesbury, and HTS Drostdy in Worcester.
The Pioneer School’s entries were developed by its youth show group, which currently consists of five learners.
Life and natural sciences teacher Madeline Kriel said the team designed the solutions to address practical problems the school faced after introducing rabbits and chickens two years ago. The initiative gives learners hands-on experience with animals and prepares them for youth shows.
Pioneer School learners’ inventions
The first invention is a simple yet effective drainage system to protect animal housing from flooding. It features a furrow running downhill, with a PVC pipe drilled with holes to allow water to seep slowly into the soil. A shade net covers the pipe’s opening to prevent blockages from leaves and debris.
The second creation is a waste separator, consisting of a dustpan with holes drilled into it and a lengthened handle for easier use. Sand and soil fall through the holes when shaken, leaving behind manure, which is then added to the school’s compost heap for use in their gardens.
The third solution is an adapted rabbit feeder, made by attaching a PVC pipe elbow to the feeder. The elbow prevents the animals from climbing inside, reduces feed contamination, and allows feed to flow steadily into the bucket. It is secured with wire for easy cleaning.
“This solution has resulted in less wastage, improved hygiene, and constant fresh feed,” Kriel explained.
Broadening learners’ horizons
Bredenkamp said taking all 102 Pioneer School learners to Nampo Cape each year was an important tradition, as it gave many of them their first opportunity to touch farming equipment and animals, broadening their world and exposing them to potential careers.
He added that the school’s involvement in youth shows began after Kriel joined the school two years ago, which also led to the introduction of rabbits and chickens to the school.
“Some children were terrified when they first encountered the chickens, but they have overcome these fears and now love working with the animals,” he said.
Four Pioneer School learners have also qualified for the National Agricultural Youth Show finals later this year, while others are preparing for the cheese and yoghurt competitions at Nampo this weekend.
“Making cheese and yoghurt is a brilliant exercise for our children. They must follow a recipe closely but also have room for creativity,” Bredenkamp said.
The school hopes to one day establish a vegetable garden for learners to tend, but this will require additional funding.
Bredenkamp said he believed the competition had shown his learners that innovation could come from anywhere. “Our children often face challenges most people never consider, yet they approach those challenges with creativity and optimism,” he said.
“Opportunities like this prove that innovation isn’t limited by resources or disability but driven by imagination.”
