Meet the 22-year-old farmers entering this 125-year-old competition

Luke Alexandrou and James Leys are the fourth generation in their family to help create the Western District’s display at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

On Thursday night, before the displays opened to the public the next morning for the district exhibits’ 125th year, the 22-year-old cousins spent the evening laying Dorothy’s yellow brick road out of corn.

“Every year we still come back, and we’re only volunteers. But we do it because our great-grandfather did it, our grandfather did it, our mothers did it. Why would we not do it?” Leys said.

Luke Alexandrou and James Leys are the fourth generation in their family to contribute to the Western District display at the Royal Easter Show. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The four regions – Central, Western, Northern and Southern NSW – are seeking to win two prizes: the first considers the quality of produce; the second is for the display.

Princesses made of seeds, a light-up woollen tornado and a water fountain in a field of cotton are all featured in this year’s competition. Every year, the regions try to outdo each other, putting on a show bigger than the last.

There are mixed opinions between those manning the displays over whether they will be going for another 125 years. South-East Queensland used to participate but exited due to cost.

If it is still going, Leys and Alexandrou will make their kids participate, just as they were made to.

“They won’t have much choice,” Leys said.

“If it’s still around,” Alexandrou added. “It’s dying, but it can pick itself back up. A perfect example is South-East Queensland: they just ran out of money. It gets too expensive, especially since COVID.”

At the next display along, Dale Kneipp, 68, has been travelling from Northern NSW to the Easter Show to see the regional displays for decades.

Dale Kneipp from the Northern District at the Royal Easter Show.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Last year, for the first time, he was asked to help create the Northern Regions display.

“I said my bloody oath. I think it’s an honour to be asked to help make the display,” he said.

This year, the Northern Regions display celebrates the 125th anniversary by featuring displays of years past.

Kneipp believes the district exhibits will stick around for a long time, in part because of future generations coming through.

“We got a younger fella up there, he’s only 16, he’s one of our best workers,” he said.

Dave Cullen from the Southern District at the Royal Easter Show.Credit: Wolter Peeters

At the next display, Dave Cullen, 70, of the Southern District says the atmosphere is “quietly competitive”.

For 12 years, Cullen has helped to create the Southern District’s display. Hours of gluing seeds and placing vegetables have made this year’s fairytale design, which the team hopes will help children get involved in learning about the region’s produce.

“I think it’s one of the big attractors of the show because this really brings the city to the country,” he said.

The Royal Easter Show opened on Friday and will run until April 22.

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