education
NEW! Strawberry Sundae Lane presented by BOQ WHERE: Agricultural Education Hall New in 2025, Strawberry Sundae Lane presented by Bank of Queensland (BOQ) is an exciting educational activation that brings one of the Show’s most iconic treats—the strawberry sundae—to life in an engaging and interactive way. A beloved tradition since the 1950s, the strawberry sundae is more than just a Show favourite—it’s a celebration of Queensland produce and farming. Behind every scoop lies a story of agriculture, and at Strawberry Sundae Lane you can explore the journey from field to fair. Through hands-on activities, children will discover how strawberries are grown, how milk becomes ice cream, how sugarcane is turned into refined sugar, and how wheat is harvested and turned into crunchy cones. There are more than 10 interactive learning elements over 16 metres at Strawberry Sundae Lane, including: Picking prop strawberries to learn about ripeness and reducing food waste Engaging in two-player strawberry trivia to test your knowledge Examining strawberries under a microscope to learn about the tiny details
Operating a vintage-style water pump to see water recycling in action Turning a handle to observe sugarcane processing Milling wheat manually to understand grain processing into ice cream cones Listening to farmers talk about food production through video Watching a video showing the ice cream making process Illuminating a map of Queensland to discover local farming regions There are plenty of fun photo opportunities along the way, plus kids can enjoy a taste of the famous strawberry ice cream and try a juicy, fresh strawberry for themselves. Thanks to the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association who’ve purchased 30,000 strawberries directly from farmers, with support from Berries Australia and the Department of Primary Industries. Children will also receive a strawberry seed card (while stocks last), thanks to BOQ, so they can grow their own strawberries at home. Strawberry Lane is more than just a sweet stop - it’s a place where kids can discover how everyday ingredients get from Queensland farms to Ekka hands, making food education fun. How berry exciting! Post a selfie with #BOQEkkaStrawberries for your chance to win one of a $100 Visa eGift cards, thanks to BOQ!
The iconic Ekka Strawberry Sundae is a delicious Queensland tradition served only at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) each year. It is more than just a delicious treat, it’s a great way to learn about and support Queensland’s agricultural industry, economy, and community spirit. What is the Ekka Strawberry Sundae? Where Do the Ingredients Come From?
Dairy Industry (Milk & Cream)
Strawberry (Horticulture)
Queensland is Australia’s largest strawberry producer! The biggest strawberry-growing regions are: • Sunshine Coast • Moreton Bay / Caboolture • Bundaberg
Milk and cream for the ice cream and whipped cream come from dairy farms across Queensland. The biggest dairy regions are: • Darling Downs • Scenic Rim • North Queensland
Fun Facts 180,000 Strawberry Sundaes are eaten each year at the Ekka During Ekka, 8 tonnes of strawberries are consumed in the sundaes 25,000 litres of strawberry ice cream is used to make the sundaes (5000 x 5 litre tubs) 15,000 litres of white ice cream is consumed (3000 x 5 litre tubs)
Sugar Industry (Sweetener)
Wheat Industry (Ice Cream Cone)
The sugar that sweetens the ice cream and whipped cream comes from sugarcane farms in: • Mackay • Burdekin • Far North Queensland Presented By:
The wheat that makes the crunchy cone is grown in: • Darling Downs • Central Highlands (Emerald region) • Southern Downs (Goondiwindi)
N
W
E
• Strawberry Industry : Production value is more than $500 million annually. • Queensland Dairy Industry: Produces 280 million litres of milk annually, worth more than $300 million. where do the ingredients come from? PRESS THE BUTTON TO SEE
How These Industries Help Queensland’s Economy
S
• Wheat production: 2.2 million tonnes harvested in Queensland annually, contributing $5 billion to the state’s economy. • Sugar industry: Queensland cane farmers produce 28 million tonnes of sugarcane each year worth $2.5 billion.
Atherton Far North Queensland
QUEENSLAND
Burdekin
Mackay
WHEAT SUGAR MILK STRAWBERRY
Central Highlands
Bundaberg Central
Sunshine Coast Caboolture
Darling Downs
Scenic Rim
Goondiwindi
ekka media kit | Page 48
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog