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Queensland Ag Shows announces five best new innovations

Announcement posted by Writers Who 18 Mar 2021

2021 Best Show Innovation in the Queensland Shows Awards

Queensland Ag Shows today announced the five finalists of the 2021 Best Show Innovation in the Queensland Shows Awards.

The awards, in their sixth year this year, are run by the Next Generation committee of Queensland Ag Shows and recognise excellence in the agricultural show movement.

“These awards are about recognising the new ideas and innovations that progress the show movement locally,” Next Generation president Kait Shultz, from Pittsworth, said. 

The finalists in the show innovation category are from Atherton, Esk, Mundubbera, Pittsworth, and a group of eight shows from the West Moreton and Brisbane Valley districts including Ipswich, Esk, Boonah, Toogoolawah, Lowood, Gatton, Rosewood and Laidley Shows. 

MUNDUBBERA SHOW - VIRTUAL SHOW

The Mundubbera Show Society has held shows for over 100 years, but 2020 was not the year for shows. Instead, their virtual show was able to capture the talent of the region and put it on display for the world to see. Virtual competitions covered farm and garden produce, art and floral art, photography, cookery, lego and even a pet parade. Entrants submitted photographs and videos of their exhibits via email and social media. 

ESK SHOW SOCIETY - CAMP AND JAM WEEKEND

The Esk Show Society have been recognised for a new event, the unique Camp and Jam weekend which attracted 125 caravans to the showgrounds, and many more attendees. Professional musicians performed at night and during the day walk-up artists entertained the crowd. The food and beverage outlets were managed by the Show society members. This initiative injected financial benefit to the community of Esk as well Esk Show Society.

PITTSWORTH SHOW SOCIETY - COOK THE CROP

When devastating drought necessitated the cancelling of the popular annual crop competition, the concept of the Cook the Crop Competition was borne. The paddock-to-plate 50-minute cooking event pitted six well-known farmers against each other on a stage, cooking a meal from the locally sourced ingredients and crops. Meals included deep fried chickpeas with a sorghum beer, through to meatballs washed down with a wheat beer. It drew a huge crowd, lucrative sponsorship. 

WEST MORETON AND BRISBANE VALLEY SHOW SOCIETIES - VIRTUAL PET PARADES

When covid caused the cancellation of shows across Australia, many show societies across Queensland hosted virtual events from cattle to quilting.  Eight show societies in the Brisbane Valley and West Moreton region took a different approach. Ipswich, Esk, Boonah, Toogoolawah, Lowood, Gatton, Rosewood and Laidley Shows came together to host virtual pet parades throughout the usual show season. Entries included fish, alpacas, guinea pigs, cats and dogs. The virtual events were highly successful and raised funds for therapy dogs.

ATHERTON SHOW SOCIETY - MINI POP UP SHOW

In the face of show cancellations thanks to covid, the 117-year old Atherton Show Society hosted the first Mini POP UP Show for the region which brought dodgem cars, jumping castles, a merry-go-round, showbags and show food to the Atherton Showgrounds. Show goers from far and wide within the region came to soak up the show atmosphere. The success of that donation-entry event inspired Cairns Show to host the next Mini POP UP Show and another show society followed. 

The 2021 judges were Agricultural Shows of Australia chairman Dr. Rob Wilson, immediate past president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Geoff Smith, and show ring announcer Lyndsey Douglas.

The Awards will be announced during the Queensland Ag Shows Gala Dinner on Saturday 20th March 2021 at the Roma Explorers Inn to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Queensland Ag Shows Annual General Meeting at Roma Showgrounds.

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