Thousands flock to Brunswick Showgrounds to enjoy Farm to Fridge experience at 92nd Brunswick Show

A great array of entertainment options matched with perfect weather conditions on the weekend as the South West’s biggest agricultural show returned for another year. Thousands of residents and visitors alike headed to the Brunswick Junction Showgrounds on Saturday for the 92nd installment of the Brunswick Show. In opening the town’s biggest day of the year, Brunswick Agricultural Society president Julianne Hill thanked attendees alongside the show committee, which contains around 60 active members. “It takes that many, an army to put on a day like today,” she said. “I really appreciate all your time and effort.” This year’s theme was Farm to Fridge, highlighting the region’s status as a food bowl. Ms Hill noted the appreciation of primary producers in the area. “The farmers who made the food to go in our fridges, we’re very proud of you all,” she said. Born and bred Brunswick Junction resident Michael Italiano was given the honour of officially opening the show. He spoke about the history of agriculture within around the town, which includes dairy and beef cattle, alongside fresh produce. “Brunswick always been known for growing potatoes, and if you had a team of horses to plow and a licence, you grew potatoes,” Mr Italiano said. “We used to grow them up in the hills during wintertime...(and) the summer crop were grown in irrigated areas and in the Benger Swamp.” Mr Italiano noted there had been a number of changes to the industry within the region. Machinery harvesting allowed potato and other fresh produce production to move from Brunswick Junction to Myalup and Binningup, while milk processing is now largely undertaken in Perth. One of the hotly anticipated parts of the day was the auctioning of Clarabelle the Cow. The fibreglass bovine went under the hammer for the third time to determine who would get to keep her for the next year. A syndicate consisting of the Talbot family from Brunswick Junction and Fotheringhame family from Karlgarin in the State’s Wheatbelt were the successful bidders for Clarabelle, raising $10,000 for the McGrath Foundation. Syndicate lead Mark Talbot thanked James Giacci and his broader family for their efforts to raise funds for cancer charities using Clarabelle over the last two years. “I’m more than happy to continue getting them to use Clarabelle, but it’s our turn for us to take a leading role this time and give them a bit of a break,” he said. “I think Clarabelle’s future is sound between a lot of us now. She’s a great talking point and a great ambassador for any of the charity groups that are involved in cancer.” Clarabelle will be heading to the Wheatbelt in a few weeks time for a Pink Ladies Day fundraiser, but the syndicate is open to sharing her around over the next year. Additional funds were raised for the McGrath Foundation by the auctioning of the Adora Bull rocking toy, created by Brunswick Junction Men’s Shed member Bruce Smart. It raised $1100 after it was purchased by the Tuckey family.