The Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition has made its exciting debut in the region, standing as an educational event where schools showcase their student’s skills in growing the best sugarcane.
Canegrowers Burdekin (CBL) launched the friendly competition in collaboration with Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS), Sugar Research Australia (SRA), and the Burdekin Shire Council’s Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival to highlight the agricultural talents of students and staff whilst creating a sense of community pride through collaboration.
Aiming to foster a hands-on learning experience, the competition hopes to promote environmental awareness and build a deeper understanding in young minds of the region’s celebrated farming process.14 Schools across the region have joined the competition to learn the intricacies of sugarcane cultivation, and sustainable farming practices and Manager for CBL, Greg Watson, believes this event will highlight the importance of the sugarcane industry within the local economy, and as a future career path for students.
“It’s a great opportunity to educate schools and their students on everything involved in growing sugarcane,” expressed Greg.
Each competing school will allow for a 1m x 1m plot for their crop, with BPS and SRA providing 3 – 4 sugar cane billets for the students to plant.
“Each school has a Grower Mentor attached so the students can call on a local grower to come and give them advice to help them tend to and to grow the best plot of sugar cane they possibly can,” explained Greg.
Ayr State School, Airville State School, Brandon State School, Burdekin Catholic High School, the Burdekin Christian College, the Burdekin School, Clare State School, East Ayr State School, Giru State School, Home Hill State School, Millaroo State School, Osborne State School, St Colman’s School, and St Francis Primary School have all rolled up their sleeves and entered the competition.
Planting of the sugar cane billets is already underway, and after 12 months, the cane will be harvested and milled at SRA via their small mill to measure the CCS (sugar content), weight, and overall size of the cane produced. Based on these parameters, a winner will be determined and awarded at 2025’s Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival.
The Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition stands as a newly associated award event of the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival and the winning school will receive a trophy presented at the festival’s Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships along with a $1,000 prize.
“We’ve been ready pleased with how the schools have gotten behind the Burdekin’s Sweetest School Competition, and with how the Burdekin Shire Council has supported it as well, and the Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival is such a wonderful celebration of the sugarcane industry in the region, and this competition is just another way to bring more community support, education and awareness,” explained Greg.
BPS staff Asha Gould and Rob Milla, Mick the Canecutter from Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival, CBL Director Charlie Papale, Senator Susan MacDonald and CBL Chair Owen Menkens with a group of local school students. Photo supplied
Planting underway at St Colman's School with CBL Chair Owen Menkens and Mick The Canecutter from Sweet Days Hot Nights Festival. Photo supplied
Home Hill High School students planting billets under the watchful eye of CBL Director Glenn Betteridge. Photo supplied
Planting underway at St Colman's School with CBL Chair Owen Menkens. Photo supplied
