THE second South West FoodBowl Festival produced a string of highlights for many people.
The Festival was officially opened by MLA Terry Redman on Friday October 17 at the Nannup Foreshore Park.
560 students booked in for the students’ day, which focused on farm tours for students where the farmer became the teacher and showed the students a variety of activities which included pregnancy testing through to cheese making, the science involved in an orchard, how to make a wicking bed, raise free range egg layers, a fantastic interactive display by SciTech, a sheep shearing demo and the Department of Agriculture and Foods’ new van where you can be the virtual farmer.
The students were able to feel the wool of the sheep, pick up the chooks, help the vet with the pregnancy testing, taste an apple straight off the tree and experience local food for lunch.
The Sundowner was a fantastic affair, with local Nannup wines and fresh platters assembled on site using fresh yummy Nannup produce. Gary Dobbin provided great background music. Sabrina Hahn also spoke and gave a few tips on sustainable food growing.
Day two began with breakfast cooked for the community by the farmers. Australian Region Rural Business Women runner up Jackie Jarvis spoke to the audience about `Who will put the food on your plate.’ She cited the difficulties of getting Australians to work in the agricultural industry and the need for them to consider career opportunities in agriculture that will help feed the predicted huge increase in population in the years to come.
“There is a looming shortage of farmers’ sons and daughters in the agricultural industry so it will require people in cities and towns to learn the skills to grow food for our nation if we are to have food on our plate,” she said.
A Luscious Lunch on Saturday at the Nannup Bridge Cafe was held, with magnificent Nannup produce on the menu, MC’d by the amazing Louise Fitzroy. The fare of pork, marron, and beef was all grown locally and enjoyed by all. Chef Leon finished the meal with a demonstration on how to make a Crème Broulee and we would like to thank Leon and all his staff for their efforts in creating a fabulous lunch.
Outside, the “Growing Tent” had Sabrina Hahn, Ben Mitchell, Louise Fitzroy and Bob Longmore all giving us tips on the Paddock to Plate journey and the importance of growing healthy food and most importantly how to grow it.
SciTech had an interactive display going all weekend and two special shows on the Saturday. This certainly challenged people young and old.
The Festival culminated in a “SW Sensations Dinner”. The dinner was cooked by celebrated chef Matt Hamilton from Rivendell Winery in Yallingup. Produce for the dinner was centred on local Nannup producers. One dinner guest was a previous Gold Plate Award Winner, and their comment was the food was full of flavour and cooked to perfection.
Each course for the dinner was matched beautifully to a local wine. Thank you to all of the local producers for providing their produce, to those of you that attended and to Louise Fitzroy for giving all guests a true understanding of the Paddock to Plate Journey.
The South West Food Bowl Festival committee would also like to thank the sponsors and donors to the festival.
These include Lotterywest, South West Catchments Council and their Sustainable Agriculture and South West Regional Landcare Facilitator Programs, The Busselton-Dunsborough Times and the West Australian Regional Newspaper Group, The Meat and poultry company, Harvey Fresh, The Meat and Poultry company, Bannister Downs Dairy, Shire of Nannup, CWA, Nannup CRC, Eziway, Lonsdale’s, South West Development Commission, Department of Agriculture and Food, Cambray Cheese, Black Point Beef, DEW enterprise, OM Dunnet and Co, Wayne and Jenny Franchesci, David and Jan Haynes and Nannup Ridge Wines.
The festival must also thank the outstanding support and professionalism from the farmers who opened up their farms for the farm tours to over 500 school students on Friday and for the community on the Saturday of the festival.
The Festival was an event for all to enjoy and learn about the fabulous food products grown around and in our town.
