CHILDREN accompanied by an adult will be given free entry to the IGA Perth Royal Show and their local Royal Agricultural Society-affiliated shows, under a $2million State Government initiative to support Western Australian agriculture.
Under the initiative, $1.2million will go towards providing free entry for children aged 12 years and younger to the IGA Perth Royal Show, when accompanied by an adult. A further $800,000 will also be available for affiliated regional shows to fund free entry for children when accompanied by an adult.
Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston said with demand for agricultural produce rising, there was great potential for expanding the sector. It was important for all children to learn about the agricultural industry from a young age.
“It’s a sector that brings real export dollars into Western Australia’s economy,” Mr Baston said.
“There are real opportunities for careers in agriculture and agricultural shows play an important role in showcasing the industry to the next generation. At a more basic level, children can learn where the food they eat really comes from.”
The Farm 2 Food Pavilion attracted about 200,000 people last year, giving them the opportunity to experience milling wheat into flour, sorting eggs, identifying potatoes, making pasta and cooking using local produce.
This year it will also include a mini-supermarket that will help children learn how to spot Western Australian produce through the Buy West Eat Best labelling program.
Early-bird discount tickets to the IGA Perth Royal Show are available at http://www.perthroyalshow.com.au with adult passes costing $22.
All IGA stores in WA will sell discount tickets from August 29.
More information will be available at the Department of Agriculture and Food’s website soon at http://www.agric.wa.gov.au.
Fact File
The IGA Perth Royal Show runs from September 27 to October 4, 2014
Last year, more than 450,000 people attended the IGA Perth Royal Show. This was the second highest attendance on record