Black Mountain’s Barnes family triumphs at Noosa Show

The Barnes family - mum Sally with Ruby, Josie, Mia and Jarrah and some of their winning entries. (Rob Maccoll)

The Barnes family of Black Mountain decided for the first time this year to enter their goods in the cooking, flowers and arts and crafts sections of the Noosa Country Show and their efforts were richly rewarded with a swag of winning ribbons to take home.

Mum Sally who submitted her own entry in the preserves section, said her children Ruby, Josie, Mia and Jarrah had put in a major effort to prepare and create entries which included bread, chocolate cake, knitted socks, crocheted poncho and flower arrangements from homegrown flowers.

Fans of the River Cottage Australia the family who live on a 5ha property where they produce much of their own food “had so much fun” following in the footsteps of the lifestyle show’s host Paul West who enters his own wares in local shows.

Sally said the enterprising youths not only created their winning entries but paid the entry costs with money made from their own cottage industries including honey from their bee hives, pumpkins and loofahs (turned into back scratchers) grown on the property.

This year the Noosa Country Show attracted more than the usual number of entries across all categories.

Show president Rob Graham said there were great numbers of entries in everything from arts and photography to horse events. There was even a lineup of young bull riders keen to test their skills at the rodeo.

Mr Graham said the committee were impressed with the success of the show and the big crowds that attended on both Friday and Saturday of the show.

With a diverse range of entertainment and activities on the various stages, the rings and in the buildings their aim was to keep people interested, he said.

“It was really good. There’s a little bit for everybody,” he said.