Elsie Johnson continues her streak as Royal Adelaide Show’s reigning cookery queen
Elsie Johnson was already the Royal Adelaide Show’s teen cookery queen – and this year her extraordinary winning streak continues.
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At 17, Elsie Johnson was already the Royal Adelaide Show’s reigning cookery queen, crowned the most successful junior cookery competitor last year.
She has continued her winning streak this year, taking out 17 ribbons so far, including winning first place for her jubilee cake, marmalade, flavoured vinegar, fruit sauce and spread.
But it’s more than a competition for Elsie, who started exhibiting as soon as she started school, continuing a family tradition started by her grandparents.
“It’s in my blood,” she said. “The cookery comes from my mum. She grew up doing cookery and she absolutely loved it […] and does it to remember her mum.
“I started when I was three, I entered in my first, local country show. I think I did a packed lunch box with some decorated biscuits.”
She also entered the wool and sheep competitions, competing in the merino fleece young judges and the merino sheep young judges championships on Thursday.
“I’m being judged on how I’m judging the animals, so another judge will come through, place the animals or the fleece in their quarters from first to fourth and I will be judged on my handling and my oral presentation.
“So justifying why I placed those fleeces or the animals in that order as well as if I got my placements correct.”
Later this year she will head to Melbourne to compete in the national final after winning first in the meat sheep breeds state young judges contest last year. If “fortunate” this year, she will also have the opportunity to represent the state at nationals next year.
“If I’m very fortunate enough to win today against the hundreds of competitors out there, I will be representing South Australiain the national young judges competition here in Adelaide next year at the showgrounds.
“Last year I was fortunate enough to win the meat breeds young judges on the Monday and so this year I will be heading overto Melbourne for the national final.”
Hailing from Peake in country SA, Elsie is also the 2024 SA Young Rural Ambassador and said the show helped bring both the country and metro communities together.
“I love the show because it’s an absolutely amazing opportunity for people to connect with their roots and where their food and fibre comes from. For me it’s a great way to catch up with so many people, build my networks and gain awesome experiencesand meet so many new people.
Elsie hopes to undertake an agricultural science degree with elements of marketing and business after finishing Year 12.
“Country shows and the Adelaide Show will be in my future,” she said. “My dream is being able to work in agriculture and being able to educate people on where their food and fibre comes from and support this amazing industry.”
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