Plenty of rides, exhibitions and unique events like the sugarcane competition made up for a successful first day of the 111th Gin Gin Show on Saturday.
The traditional country show was bursting at the seams with everything from wood chopping, sideshow alley, fireworks, horse and cattle judging, live entertainment and more.
This year saw an impressive number of entries in the popular sugarcane competition, with between 200 to 300 locally grown submissions.
Gin Gin Show sugarcane steward Sam Eden said it was the highest number of entries ever recorded, and the local growing conditions this year had been terrific.
“There’s 137 entries in the classes five onwards, plus there is the CCS classes,” Sam said.
“This is up from 80 entries in previous years.
“I think we have had a season where there is a lot of big cane, so farmers have brought more in and we’ve had two previous years without a show, so people are keen to get back in.”
Sam said a lot of work went in to winning a place in the sugarcane competition, and the judges had a tough job ahead of them to determine the champions.
“We are looking for similar and consistent nodes in the sugarcane, and there are some spectacular samples here,” said judge Jim Sullivan.
“The nodes can tell the growth rate and you can see which pieces have had consistent growing conditions.
“Cracks are a problem – they are growth cracks and are a no-no.
“It’s a big job to walk through the farms as a cane farmer and collect your best samples for the show.”
The sugarcane competition had 30 classes in total at this year's Gin Gin Show, and the judges remarked that they had not seen such good quality for some time, agreeing that it looked to be a bumper sugarcane season to come.
“I've been very impressed with the Gin Gin Show as a whole this year,” Sam said.
“It's all very pleasing.”
Gin Gin Show puts on spectacular events
Gin Gin Show president Kerryn Flanders said returning after two years, the show society was thrilled the hard work and dedication of the volunteers had paid off for the 111th show.
“Our biggest thing has been rebuilding our show and getting us back up and known for having a good country show,” Kerryn said.
“We’ve never had as many horses as this before, poultry is on Sunday and that’s a full shed also.
“We’re so big now that some of the entries like the dogs are off site as we’ve run out of room!
“Our community has really supported the show, the gate has had a steady flow and I think numbers are going to be fabulous!
“Because we have not had a show for two years, we really wanted people to know we are back, bigger and better than before.”
The Gin Gin Show continues today until 5pm.
Find out more here.
- Earlier story: Young Farmers Challenge a highlight of Gin Gin Show
