Mararoa School principal Melodie Gage-Witham said the "small rural school with a big community heart" had a passion for ensuring past traditions were treasured and nurtured.
"One of these treasures is the annual pet day."
Mararoa School was organising the event this year.
In recent years there had been a steady decline in pet entries.
The logistics of transporting more than 300 Te Anau Primary School pupils the 25km to Mararoa School was a contributing factor, she said.
Staff at the school devised a plan to be able to retain the special rural character of the school with an emphasis on increasing pet entries.
"While small in numbers, but by no way small in ambition, the staff and PTA were fuelled by fond childhood memories of past Agriculture and Pet Days, where pets of all shapes and sizes, garden crafts, baking, artworks and farm machinery were recalled."
To make it easier for more pupils to attend the event, it was being held at the Te Anau Rugby Club grounds between 10am and 2.30pm on Friday.
The children would be able to demonstrate their knowledge of their pet entries.
Early childhood centres were invited to enter additional categories including gumboot decorating, research projects, sand saucers, cupcakes, photography and Lego creations with a rural theme.
About 40 teams had entered in the Farming Frenzy, a rural challenge with some interesting twists.
The Te Anau Young Farmers Club had been given the difficult job of prejudging the pet diaries competition prior to the event.
Pāmu was the main sponsor of the event, and the 35-year-old Landcorp Cup would be awarded to the most knowledgeable pet owner.
Mararoa School and Te Anau School had year about organising the day and there was a long-standing, good-natured competition between them.
"It is anyone's guess who will win the interschool tug of war and dunk-the-principal challenges on the day."
