Sydney Royal Easter Show wins big at the renowned IAFE Awards
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has received international recognition with its iconic Sydney Royal Easter Show taking home 22 awards at last month’s International Association Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Awards held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The IAFE Awards recognise U.S and international State Fairs and Agricultural Shows for their contribution to education and innovation in the agricultural sector, judging events across four major categories of competition exhibits, agriculture, marketing, and sponsorship.
Despite tough competition provided by popular North American events, including the Calgary Stampede and Minnesota State Fair, Sydney’s premier agricultural event managed to take home twelve first place, five second place, and five third place awards.
General Manager, Agriculture and Sydney Royal Easter Show, Murray Wilton, says he is incredibly proud of the team’s achievements and recognition on the international stage.
“It is an honour to be awarded and recognised by our international peers for our contribution to Agriculture”, Mr Wilton said.
“Our team works tirelessly to put on a fantastic event for the community, to celebrate the country coming to the city, and to promote the importance of agriculture to our everyday lives. The last few years have presented tremendous challenges, and it is a real credit to the team that they continue to deliver such an innovative and impactful event.
“It’s also exciting to have some of our smaller and innovative programs honoured, such as ‘Ag in a Box’, which has been recognised as a front-runner in agricultural education for school-age children, many of whom have never stepped foot on a farm, and our ‘Showbag Launch’, which offers children from local hospitals the opportunity to experience a small taste of the Easter Show”.
The awards were accepted by Sydney Royal Easter Show Head of Entertainment, Lynelle Smith CFE, who last year became the first graduate of the IAFE Institute of Fair Management in Australasia.
The 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show will take place from Friday 22nd March to Tuesday 2nd April 2024.
International Association of Fairs & Expositions – Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
AGRICULTURE AWARDS:
| First Place – Category 1 – Agricultural exhibitor events, awards, participation incentives or retention programs AGRICULTURAL SHOWS MEDAL – PROVIDED TO EACH NSW SHOW SOCIETY AS A WAY TO RECOGNISE AND THANK A HARD-WORKING SHOW VOLUNTEER |
| First Place – Category 5 – Unique exhibit/promotion/special event/community engagement/competition showcased during the year EDUCATION PROGRAM – AG IN A BOX |
| First Place – Category 6A – Agriculture individual photo: Livestock (not equine) YOUNG GIRL WITH WINNING DAIRY COW |
| First Place – Category 6B – Agriculture individual photo: Horticulture/Crops PUMPKIN HARVEST IN THE DISTRICT EXHIBITS |
| First Place – Category 6C – Agriculture individual photo: Equine STUNT HORSE RIDING DURING NIGHT TIME SHOW – THUNDER OF A THOUSAND HOOVES |
| Second Place – Category 4 – Program/event/exhibit designed to educate consumers/fair-going public on the story of food DISTRICT PRODUCT TALKS – TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW DIFFERENT PRODUCE ITEMS ARE GROWN AND HOW TO IDENTIFY OUTSTANDING PRODUCE |
COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS:
| First Place – Category 6 – Competitive Exhibit (Photo series) BEE HOTEL MAKING PHOTO SERIES (EDUCATIONAL CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP) |
| First Place – Category 10 – Any other competitive exhibits BALCONY GARDENS – OFFERING CREATIVE IDEAS FOR GARDENS IN SMALL SPACES |
| Second Place – Category 5 – Strategy or tactic to engage competitive exhibits participants SYDNEY ROYAL CAT SHOW |
| Third Place – Category 1 – Use of theme throughout multiple divisions of competitive exhibits POETRY IN MOTION (SYDNEY ROYAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW) – FLORAL THEMES BASED ON AUSTRALIAN POETS |
| Third Place – Category 2 – New class of competition SYDNEY ROYAL DOG SHOW – BEST BABY PUPPY OF THE DAY |
| Third Place – Category 4 – Display method and/or prop HONEY CABINET |
MARKETING:
| First Place - Category 1A – Television Commercial TELEVISION COMMERCIAL – FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE |
| First Place – Category 3 – Single-sided, flat promotional ad FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT FOR SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW |
| First Place – Category 9 – Online advertisements ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT SIX-WEEK CAMPAIGN |
| First Place - Category 11 – Out-of-the-Box marketing/promotion SHOWBAG LAUNCH – PROMOTION OF THE 2023 SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW SHOWBAGS |
| Second Place – Category 2 – Radio RADIO ADVERTISEMENT – FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE |
| Second Place – Category 5 – Promotional/Advertising Poster PROMOTIONAL POSTER FOR SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW – FEATURING NIGHT-TIME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Second Place – Category 12 – Best Marketing Campaign SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW MARKETING CAMPAIGN – FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE |
| Third Place – Category 8 – Promotional Advertising: Outdoor SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW BILLBOARD ADVERTISEMENT |
SPONSORSHIP:
| First Place – Category 4 – Sponsorship Exposure SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR NEWS LIMITED |
| Third Place – Category 4 – Sponsorship Exposure SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR SUSHI HUB |
