Decorated cake category winner Faye Pedersen was excited to see her Stacked-Hat Cake take first prize. She has entered classes every year since moving to St Peter’s a few years ago.
‘It’s fun to do. I really enjoy it. I didn’t know what I was going to do until I started making this cake. It just developed as it went along,’ she said.
‘My family enjoys it too. I usually can’t bring them home because by Thursday night they go off, but my chief taste-tester Juliet has chickens and they love it. Nothing goes to waste.’
2026 is the first year that the show has had a shortbread recipe category. Entrants were expected to follow a provided shortbread recipe and exhibit six shortbread fingers. The category saw more than 20 entries, and a junior winner in 12-year-old George Pearce, who beat several adults.
George said that he enjoyed baking and was looking forward to continuing it as a hobby in future years, and entering more categories next year.
His sister Charlotte, nine, was also a winner in a junior marrow category, which she had grown as a part of her gardening hobby. Her parents have recently helped her launch a Facebook and Instagram page to share her gardening online.
And they also won prizes for their guinea pigs and as the young handlers of cows and goats.
‘We do everything,’ said mum Jessica Valpied. ‘It’s a big deal for the family. This is our lives. We work the whole year up to this show.
‘Today we’re a tired family, but we love it. It’s such a great event. It gets a bit competitive in the family, but it’s fun.’
Three-year-old Taylor Szmierea entered painted pebbles, a pasta necklace, and cookies. On her pebbles, she painted a bird and a ladybird. It was the first time she had taken part in the show. She said that she enjoyed baking and loved seeing donkeys and rabbits at the show.
‘It’s lovely to see youngsters doing what their grans used to do, and obviously enjoying it,’ said Paul Wilson, a judge of junior and young adult classes.
‘I reckon there’s going to be a few new hedge veg stalls after this.
‘It’s been excellent,’ said fellow judge Julie Hyde. ‘There’s lots of imagination on show. Lots of delicate flavours, and lots of chocolate flavours. The nice thing about the West Show is that it gives everybody a chance to improve every year.
‘There are cakes and breads entered here which could have been done by adults. The presentation of everything is beautiful. This is the future of the West Show, so it’s great to see such a fantastic turnout.’
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