2025 Maitland Show

Sizzling success at a sweltering Maitland Show.

The Maitland Show was a scorcher this year, both in terms of the fierce competition and the soaring temperatures! Miss Kelly and myself navigated the heat, moving from shade to shade and fan to fan, while engaging with many familiar faces—thanks to Miss Kelly’s extensive acquaintances across the Yorke Peninsula!

Produce competition

I was particularly interested in the performance of our CYS Garden to Plate program’s produce in the competitions. I had high hopes for our rockmelons and zucchinis, staples in our students’ diet this season. The results were impressive, with unexpected triumphs in the pickle and celery categories, suggesting a hidden talent for pickling among our students!

The standout, however, was our champion flower entry, which will certainly delight Mrs. Norton, especially since the zinnias were initially planted merely as a sanctuary for our monarch butterflies.

School displays and students

As we strolled through the show, we hardly recognised some of our students behind their elaborate face paints and snow cone-filled smiles. The school displays were, as usual, a testament to the hard work of students and staff, barely held together by the tenacious Blue Tack amidst the heat.

One particularly heartwarming moment was running into two of our former students who are now planning their wedding. It’s moments like these that truly make you feel the passage of time!

Hard working volunteers

We also had the pleasure of chatting with Nick Rodda, the show president, during his lunch break at the pumpkin kitchen. It was important for us to acknowledge the tremendous effort he and the team of volunteers put into orchestrating such an incredible event, particularly during challenging drought conditions.

Events like these are vital for knitting together the community, bringing together friends, farmers, and fellow enthusiasts.

I’d also like to highlight the efforts of my senior Yorke Ag Alliance students who set up all the chairs and tables—a formidable task in the heat.

Until next year, Maitland Show—thanks for the memories and the prize money!