Youngsters get a taste of life down on the farm

Local farmers were touched by a gesture from Napier's littlest residents showing support for farmers.

Footsteps Preschool, in Napier, spent a day in gumboots, learning about farming as a way of showing their support for flood-hit farmers in Hawke's Bay.

Federated Farmers Hawke's Bay president Bruce Wills said the organisation was touched by the children's goodwill and prayers.

"The youngsters at Footsteps Preschool in Gladstone, Napier, have seen the plight of farmers on television and obviously wanted to show their solidarity," Mr Wills said. "In supporting local farmers, they have also learned a lot about some of the messy parts of farming - like clay, slime and mud."

The children also put together a card for those farmers affected by the April storm and flooding, to let them know they care.

"We hope some of these young children may one day grow up to have a rewarding career in agriculture."