Five Generations of Haags have exhibited at the Ipswich Show.
Syd Haag, 86, has been exhibiting and judging farm produce at the Ipswich Show since he was 21 in 1953.
His family has done the same for as long as he can remember.
“When my grandfather used to exhibit there was just one farm exhibit. Then my father took over and now my children also exhibit and my grandson is in the process of becoming a judge,” Mr Haag said.
Mr Haag grows a wide variety of produce that he waters, picks, cuts and dries all by hand. The skills he uses are generally from a time gone by.
“There is a lot of work in it. I enjoy winning and coming up with the best produce that I can,” Mr Haag said.
“I grow a lot of the old varieties you don’t see anymore.
“This year for the first time I am exhibiting a Windsor Black pumpkin. They are only grown in Queensland and I haven’t grown them in 40 years.”
Mr Haag grows only varieties, no hybrids. A variety is a naturally occurring variation of individual plants within a species.
“I only collect the seeds from the best ones,” he said.
“I have about 40 varieties of pumpkin. I even bred one and gave it a name. I call it the Haag Special.
“I did the same with tomatoes, from two varieties we had when I was going to school. I called it Haag’s Wonder.
“No one gets those seeds.”
Mr Haag also has corn that people have not seen before.
“People are always interested in asking lots of questions at the show and I am happy to answer them,” he said.
Mr Haag’s favourite pumpkin is the Beaudesert table pumpkin.
“It a real dry pumpkin and it’s sweet, it doesn’t go soupy when it’s cooked,” he said.
Syd’s wife Val sometimes bakes the Beaudesert, but mostly boils and mashes it.
“He likes to have his pumpkin every day. He thinks he’s hard done by if he doesn’t get his pumpkin,” Mrs Haag said.
What’s on around the grounds at the Ipswich Show
18-20 May
Horse events – main arena daily
Side Show Alley
Young Talent Competition in the young talent pavilion
Animal Nursery (located under the exhibit pavilion)
Farmyard Friends (behind trade pavilion)
Llama display
Alpaca display
Dairy Cattle Milking display
Miniature Galloways display
Trade stall pavilion: (open 9am to 9pm Friday & Saturday; 9am – 6pm Sunday)
Variety of trade stalls
Showbags (9am to 9pm)
Community stage: (located in the Food Court area)
Featuring a variety of local community talent daily
Stud Cattle Competition at the cattle pavilion area (Friday & Saturday only)
Kids Zone Entertainment: (next to exhibit display pavilion)
Cool4Kidz;
Luke’s Reptile Kingdom;
Petite Plaster painters;
Prof. Wallace’s Puppet Theatre
Dairy Goats Competition – open shed area near main gate entrance (Saturday Only)
Miniature Goats Competition – open shed area near main gate entrance (Sunday Only)
Woodchop Competition – below reception centre (Sunday Only)
Antique engine display (side road near cattle pavilion)
Exhibit Display pavilion:
Horticulture exhibits
Fine Art exhibits
Creative Craft exhibits
Floral Mannequin display
Food exhibits
Home Brew (beer & wine) exhibits
Apiculture exhibit ((honey)
Farm Produce exhibits
Fruit/veg/eggs exhibits
Busted Hat exhibits
Schoolwork exhibits
School Banner exhibits
Lifestyle stage: (located in the exhibit display pavilion):
Tong Fruit Artist (daily)
Jamie’s Ministry of Food demonstrations on lifestyle stage (Friday only)
Young Prince & Princess Pageant (Saturday only)
Other demonstrations and entertainment daily
Lower floor exhibit display pavilion
Poultry exhibits
Pigeon exhibits
Waterfowl exhibits
Animal Nursery
