28-868: The Ekka is the annual agricultural show of Queensland , Australia . Its formal title is the Royal Queensland Show , and it is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds . It was originally called the Brisbane Exhibition , but it is more commonly known as the Ekka , short for "exhibition". It is run by The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA). The Ekka is Queensland's largest annual event, which welcomes an average of 400,000 visitors each August. The show welcomes 21,000 competition entries, 10,000 animals, and hours of free family entertainment, including
56-569: A Wednesday public holiday known as "People's Day". The Ekka starts on the first Friday in August, except if the first Friday is before 5 August, in which case it starts on the second Friday of August. People's Day is then the Wednesday after the Ekka commences. To avoid overcrowding, some surrounding regions have the public holiday on alternative days. Frequently, in the week leading up to the Ekka,
84-644: A night program. The Ekka features a sideshow alley , showbag pavilion, and nightly fireworks displays. The significance of the first exhibition held in 1876 was described by locals as the most important event since the separation of Queensland from New South Wales in 1859. In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Ekka was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival". The first show, held between 22 and 26 August 1876, attracted 17,000 visitors. The centrepiece of
112-571: A rare collection of medals documenting the history of agricultural shows and rural industries across Australia. The 111 medals range in date from the mid-19th to the early 20th century and many are associated with significant individuals and organizations. Related to a show is the "field day", with elements of a trade show for machinery, equipment and skills required for broadacre farming. Field days typically do not involve livestock, show bags or sideshows , but may include events such as ploughing competitions not usually associated with shows due to
140-953: A talk on insect control by an entomologist at a recent field day at LSU AgCenter's Pecan Research/Extension Station in Shreveport, La. A Landcare survey conducted in 1992/93 revealed that field days in Australia have a high value among local farmers. New Zealand's National Agricultural Fieldays is held annually in June at Mystery Creek , near Hamilton, New Zealand , and attracts 1,000 exhibitors and over 115,000 visitors through its gates. Smaller shows, held annually in New Zealand's towns and communities, are generally called agricultural and pastoral shows ( A&P shows ). Agricultural shows can be sources of swine influenza transmission in both animal and human populations. Swine influenza
168-483: A variety of safety precautions that should be taken at agricultural fairs to prevent the spread of swine influenza. Vulnerable communities including children, people aged 65 years and older, pregnant women, and those suffering from long-term health conditions are groups who should avoid swine exposure due to their high-risk status. The CDC specifically recommends that high-risk individuals with known medical complications avoid interaction with swine at agricultural fairs. It
196-581: Is a communicable disease caused by one of several different strains of influenza A virus . Currently, the subtypes of influenza A virus which have been identified in pig populations within the United States are referred to as H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2, all named for their specific genetic makeups. These viruses are extremely common in pigs across various industries, including pig showmanship at agricultural fairs, and are easily passed between pigs when proper hygiene and safety measures are not carried out. It
224-502: Is advised that anyone who develops flu symptoms after swine exposure at agricultural fairs contact their physician for appropriate medical consultation. There are other recommended prevention strategies to reduce the spread of swine influenza at agricultural fairs. It is suggested that people do not bring food into pig areas, do not take any items such as toys, pacifiers or similar items near the pig areas, avoid close contact with any pigs, and wash hands before and after handling pigs. Given
252-469: Is exhibited), a trade fair , competitions, and entertainment. The work and practices of farmers , animal fanciers , cowboys , and zoologists may be displayed. The terms agricultural show and livestock show are synonymous with the North American terms county fair and state fair . The first known agricultural show was held by Salford Agricultural Society, Lancashire , in 1768. Since
280-435: Is rare for the virus to spread to humans; however, genetic reassortment can lead to susceptibility among humans. Due to direct contact with infected animals or a contaminated environment, swine influenza strains can be transmitted to human populations. In cases such as the 2009 flu pandemic , the virus was transmitted from swine to humans and caused a global pandemic which led to the deaths of approximately 12,000 people in
308-531: Is the largest annual showing of stud beef in the southern hemisphere. The Ekka, due to its large attendance, raises a large amount of revenue. Estimates of this number average around the $ 100 million mark, yet this amount may fluctuate with weather in Brisbane at the time (a particularly wet August may reduce attendance significantly). Because of the cultural significance of the Ekka, the City of Brisbane holds
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#1732783913025336-661: The Brisbane Olympics . The Ekka is held in Queensland's capital city, Brisbane , for 10 days each August at the Brisbane Showgrounds in the suburb of Bowen Hills . The Ekka is run by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA). The Ekka is Brisbane's most popular event of any sort, with around 400,000 visitors attending the show in recent years. The showgrounds covers an area of 22 hectares. During Ekka,
364-689: The Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851. A new grandstand designed by Claude William Chambers was open for the 1906 show. It was later named the John Macdonald stand in recognition of a long-serving member of the Royal National Association. In 1920, the show was visited by the Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII ) who was asked and gave permission for the name of the association to change to
392-539: The Exhibition railway line is operational with special trains (some of them historic steam trains) carrying passengers to the Exhibition railway station in the middle of the Brisbane Showgrounds. Attractions at the Ekka include fairground rides , a Side Show Alley , animal parades, woodchopping competitions, agricultural displays and equestrian events. Showbags are also an integral part of
420-667: The 19th century, agricultural shows have provided local people with an opportunity to celebrate achievements and enjoy a break from day-to-day routine. With a combination of serious competition and light entertainment, annual shows acknowledged and rewarded the hard work and skill of primary producers and provided a venue for rural families to socialise. City shows also provide city people with an opportunity to engage directly with rural life and food production. Agriculture shows are often enlivened with competitive events, including sheaf tossing , show jumping , food competitions, and tent pegging . Demolition derbies and rodeos are popular in
448-507: The Ekka experience. Usually containing food items (such as confectionery and novelty items), showbags are sold in the Showbag Pavilion. The contents of the showbags are tested to ensure they comply with safety standards. In 2015, there were 362 different showbags available for visitors to spend their money on and enjoy samples of products. Showbags range from $ 1, $ 2 (the famous Bertie Beetle Bag) and up to $ 108, providing companies
476-456: The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland. During a time when the Ekka was still young, the main purpose of the agricultural show, as its name suggests, was to show off many agricultural and industrial exhibits. It was a chance for people to show off newly invented agricultural and industrial devices such as ultra modern ploughing, sowing and harvesting artefacts. Cattle and other farm animals were also exhibited during
504-781: The US and campdrafting and wood chopping are often held in Australia. Studs are generally available for a fee. A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard . Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs , cattle , sheep , goats , horses , rabbits , llamas , and alpacas . Poultry such as chickens , geese , ducks , turkeys , and pigeons are also shown competitively. There are also competitive shows for dogs , sheepdogs , and cats . Prize-winners at agricultural shows are generally awarded inscribed medals, cups, rosettes or ribbons. The National Museum of Australia has
532-504: The United States alone. For this reason, people who work or spend any time in close proximity with pigs are at risk for infection and must follow specific precautions to prevent the spread of swine influenza. Certain populations at agricultural fairs are at increased risk of developing serious complications after swine influenza exposure. For instance, pregnant women are more susceptible to swine influenza and have been shown to have increased rates of swine influenza mortality relative to
560-709: The United States associated with contact with pigs at agricultural fairs. The three main Influenza A viruses responsible for these outbreaks are variants of the Influenza A viruses H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2. Recent swine influenza variant outbreaks associated with agriculture fairs in the United States: In the United States, agricultural fairs are a significant exposure source for swine influenza. Certain strains of swine influenza can be transmitted from pig to pig, pig to human, and human to human; swine influenza infection does not always show signs of illness. There are
588-482: The chilly Ekka winds descend on Brisbane . These are westerly winds caused by high pressure systems in the Great Australian Bight . Agricultural show An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry . The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock
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#1732783913025616-603: The general population. Similarly, adolescents , infants , and those with serious medical comorbid conditions have disproportionately high rates of mortality with swine influenza. This is concerning as over 3.5 million children in the United States participate in youth agricultural programs every year. Agricultural fairs can readily lead to swine influenza infection in vulnerable populations because agricultural fairs are frequently visited by entire families, including children and pregnant women. Swine influenza variant viruses have been responsible for several recent outbreaks in
644-489: The grounds was the timber exhibition building which housed 1,700 individual exhibits in total. One of the first popular attractions was a timber bridge built by saw-miller William Pettigrew. All visitors to the show were given a free bag of coal; this is considered the first example of what would become the showbag . The show was a spin-off from the famous International Exhibitions being held in Britain and worldwide dating from
672-478: The larger space required. In some communities in northern England Field Days (or Club Days ) have lost their agricultural character and have become community celebrations. The events are good sources of agricultural information, as organizers can arrange for guest speakers to talk on a range of topics, such as the talk on the yellow-flowering alfalfa at the South Dakota field day. Pecan growers were given
700-441: The opportunity to offer their merchandise to the public at discounted prices. Competitions remain at the heart of the Ekka. Since the very first show in 1876, the Ekka has been rewarding and recognising those dedicated to producing the best of the best. The competitions include agricultural products such as livestock, fruit and vegetables, and skills in areas as diverse as farriery and cake decorating . The Ekka strawberry sundae
728-524: The show has been cancelled four times, first in 1919 throughout the time of the Spanish flu pandemic, where the grounds were employed as temporary hospital wards for the sick, then in 1942, due to World War II . During the COVID-19 pandemic shows were cancelled in 2020 due to health concerns and again in 2021 as South East Queensland was then in lockdown . It is also planned to be cancelled in 2032 due to
756-626: The show, a practice that remains to this day. The Animal Nursery, which has been running since 1964, features around 500 baby farmyard animals for visitors to meet and greet. Every Ekka has been opened by the Governor of Queensland or the Governor-General with vice-regal involvement present throughout the whole event. This is a long tradition, with the first president of the RNA in 1875 being Governor Sir William Cairns . Since its opening,
784-599: Was introduced in 1950 by Paul's dairy company . In 1989, the sale of the strawberry sundaes became a joint initiative between the RNA and the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation , with sale proceeds going to the latter to fund medical research. The sundae consists of a cup ice cream cone filled with vanilla ice cream, chopped strawberries and strawberry ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a whole strawberry. At Ekka 2014, around 117,000 strawberry sundaes were consumed. The stud beef competition
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