It's something you'd expect to see in the grand pavilions at the Sydney Royal Easter Show - and luckily for us we can see it in our own backyard.
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A touch of royalty has been placed among the pumpkins, the corn, the watermelon and all of the entries in the Maitland Show horticulture competition.
It has helped to set off this year's exhibit, catapulting it into the history books as one the best in recent years.
It is a resilience display which was actually part of the Northern District's entry in the 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show's District Exhibits competition.
It depicts people in various scenarios and speaks to the challenges people have faced - droughts, floods, bushfires and now a pandemic.
"That is consistent with our theme of celebrating a resilient community," Maitland Showground manager Brett Gleeson said.
"It's very appropriate after droughts and floods and bushfires and a pandemic. It's everything that I wanted it to be, it's adding a new dimension to it."
The display for the Northern Districts was built in Maitland before it was taken to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was set to be destroyed afterwards, as nobody had any use for it, so Mr Gleeson stepped in and went to Sydney to dismantle it and has had it in storage, waiting for this year's show.
The huge amount of entries in the produce section is the icing on the cake for the exhibit in the McDonald Pavilion, underneath the grandstand.
It's a reminder of days gone by when people wore their Sunday best to the show and the showground was brimming with vegetables.
Go back even further, to the very first show, and farmers were competing in ploughing competitions - a nod to the market gardener lifestyle so many took on.
"It's got so much life in it," Mr Gleeson said.
He commended Horticulture Chief Steward Amorelle Dempster on her efforts to boost entries in the produce and the plant competition.
"She has so much enthusiasm and passion for this," Mr Gleeson said.
"That's the legacy of Amorelle's connection with the farmers and the Slow Food community and the earth market - she has brought all of that here and we are very grateful for that."
Tickets to Maitland Show at the gate are $50 for two adults and two children, $20 for an adult, $15 for pensioners and $10 for children 5-15 years. Children under 5 are free.
Tickets are slightly cheaper if bought online through the show website.
Click here for the full show program.
Click here for the showground map
In other Maitland Show news:
Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
