Yanco Agricultural High School students have won the coveted Sydney Royal District Exhibits Schools award for their display about bushfire prevention at the Royal Easter Show.

Principal Marni Milne said the win was much sought-after by the school, after placing second in the Show category for the past three years.  

The school won the award from four other NSW public school finalists – Crookwell High School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Lake Illawarra High School and Tempe High School.  

“The incredible work that our students and staff have put in across a variety of disciplines is reflected in these excellent results,” Mrs Milne said.    

“Our entire school community is very proud of the exceptional opportunities that our school provides in agriculture, which is unique to our school and what we stand for.”  

Students toast success

From parading steers to auctioning sheep, wool-classing judging to the best school produce display, Yanco Ag students had remarkable success at the Show, winning major prizes for teams and individual students.

Mrs Milne said 20 students and four school staff attended the iconic Show for a week.  

Individual students proudly wore their Show sashes. Year 12 student Dominic Edwards was the Reserve Champion Parader in the F002 cattle parader competition; Year 11 student Millie Munro was third in the state final for wool fleece judging; and Year 11 student Matilda Sullivan won her heat in the school parader section. 

Naish Oliver, who completed Year 12 at Yanco Agricultural High School in 2024, won the junior sheep novice auctioneer category.  

Yanco Ag sold seven steers for good prices at auction at the Show and still has chickens in competition, with the Year 8 students who have cared for them all term waiting to hear the results.  

Students also exhibited and paraded seven steers in the Hoof and Hook competition, including shorthorn Wagon Wheel, which was bred at the school.  

Bushfire theme resonates

Each school in the District Exhibits Schools award had a theme for their display, which was made and sourced from local produce.  

Yanco Ag’s chosen theme ‘Are you bushfire ready?’ explained that proactive measures, from creating firebreaks around crops and paddocks to managing fuel loads and having emergency plans in place, were critical to reducing fire risk.  

“Bushfires are an ever-present threat to rural communities and preparation is key to protecting lives, livelihoods and the land we rely on,” the students wrote in their display summary.  

“We also pay tribute to the dedicated men and women of our fire services – volunteers and professionals alike – who put themselves in harm’s way to protect rural and regional Australia.”  

Five students in Years 10, 11 and 12 spent four days assembling their display for judging.

The NSW Fire Service posted on Facebook about the students’ display: “Not to be dramatic - but this may be the best thing we've ever seen . . .Yanco, we couldn't have said it better ourselves. Congratulations on a well-deserved first place!”