Sugarcane – A Sweet Highlight at the Ekka

Sugarcane has once again proven to be one of the Royal Queensland Show’s (Ekka) most popular attractions, drawing in up to ten thousand visitors to the industry stand during last week’s event in Brisbane.

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Hosted by CANEGROWERS and supported by Sunshine Sugar, Sugar Research Australia, and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, the sugarcane industry stand has continued to grow in popularity since its highly anticipated return to the Ekka in 2022.

Even mid-week heavy rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of visitors, with CANEGROWERS

Chairman Owen Menkens expressing his delight at the positive feedback.

“I had the privilege of working on the stand one afternoon and was amazed by how interested and enthusiastic people are about the industry,” Mr. Menkens shared.

“It’s incredible to see how many people have a connection to sugarcane, whether through family or friends, working in the industry, or visiting cane-growing regions as children. So many visitors came to the stand to refect on their positive experiences with our industry.”

A major attraction this year was the virtual reality journey through the sugarcane industry, which captivated people of all ages.

“We introduced new state-of-the-art headsets and a brand-new 360-degree VR video that took visitors on an immersive journey through the industry, from planting and growing to harvesting, milling, and exporting raw sugar,” Mr. Menkens explained.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and everyone who experienced the VR left with a much better understanding and appreciation of the industry.”

For Mr. Menkens, a Burdekin cane grower, working on the Ekka stand was a personally rewarding experience— one he encourages more farmers to try if given the chance.

“As farmers, we often feel burdened by the physical, fnancial, and regulatory challenges of our work, and it can seem like city people don’t understand or might even hold negative views about agriculture.

“But spending time at the Ekka and talking to the thousands of people who visit the stand shows that city folk do appreciate farmers and care about our agricultural communities. They simply want to know more about farming.

“While they may not fully understand all of the challenges we face, their interest and concern are genuine.

“I’m proud to see the signifcant efforts CANEGROWERS is making every day to share positive stories about agriculture with the broader community.”