HOW WE'RE DOING AT EKKA
AWARD-WINNING produce from Toowoomba, Warwick, Bundaberg, Stanthorpe, Chinchilla, Dalby and Miles has been transformed into a large and vibrant Ekka display depicting our region’s agricultural heritage.
The Darling Downs District Exhibit is vying for the people’s choice award against a similarly impressive Moreton entry comprising produce from Ipswich, northern NSW, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Dating back to 1891, the Royal Queensland Show’s District Exhibits Contest entries take pride of place in the Ekka’s Agriculture Hall alongside impressive smaller entries by Queensland schools.
A team of 10 volunteers from each produce region spends a week building the incredible living artworks from fruit, vegetables, grasses, grains, sugar cane and many other agricultural products.
Every piece of produce had to pass muster with the Ekka judges before it was added to the display.
Darling Downs Exhibit volunteer Jonathan Fawkes is spending his time explaining to thousands of Ekka patrons where a lot of the food used in the display comes from.
“The display represents people in the city looking back to the country,” the Dalby farmer said.
“We’re just trying to show to the community the different things that we grow across our regions and what can be produced in outback Queensland.
“Most people don’t really know what seeds, grains and other things we grow, especially in outback Queensland.”
Mr Fawkes has been involved in the District Exhibits Contest for five years.
Ekka patrons are urged to cast their vote for their favourite exhibit, with the winning team to be crowned before the show wraps up on August 20.