The Royal Agricultural Society’s bicentenary Sydney Royal Easter Show has come to an end, with this year’s event welcoming a staggering 900,000 visitors.
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said the turnout was testimony to the strength of the event and the recovery of the agricultural sector after the impacts of drought and COVID-19.
“It has been amazing to see so many people join in to celebrate our regional communities and agricultural achievements after a difficult few years,” Mr Saunders said.
“In the last few years, NSW has faced one of the longest and most intense droughts in history, as well as devastating bushfires, floods, a mouse plague and of course the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of our primary producers. Their success was on display for all of Sydney to see and enjoy with the show returning with a bang in 2022.”
The event welcomed people from across Australia and the globe, including Her Royal Highness Princess Anne to officially open the show.
Visitors from across the state enjoyed a number of gourmet delights this year, with approximately 30 tonnes of potatoes turned into chips on a stick and the Country Women’s Association baking 34,204 scones in their kitchen.
The show also drew in animals from all over NSW, with 8,240 creatures calling the grounds home under the supervision of 2,880 animal exhibitors.
About 12,000 litres of milk was pumped at the Riverina Fresh Working Dairy, while around 900 kilograms of fleece was shorn across the multiple shearing demonstrations.
Mr Saunders took the opportunity to congratulate the finalists and winners of the district exhibits, the animal judging and the Royal Agricultural Society awards, including The Land’s Sydney Royal Young Woman, Young Auctioneers, Young Judges, and the 2022 Rural Achiever Award.
“The Royal Agricultural Society awards are a valuable part of the Show, highlighting the important role people in regional NSW play in the prosperity of NSW as a whole. These awards both recognise and inspire the next generation of regional and agricultural leaders” he said.
“It’s encouraging to see the growing enthusiasm in agriculture and the wealth of knowledge available here tells me that the $20.9 billion sector is in safe hands for the future.”
The RAS will inject $65,000 from the sale of the Ag Bags and $40,000 from the Big Bush BBQ back into local shows across NSW.
“The Show allows people to come together from all corners of the state and showcase their animals, produce and skills,” Mr Saunders said.
“I commend all those involved this year and look forward to what the 2023 Royal Easter Show has to offer.”
