City kids discover the grass behind the goodies

Across five days, CANEGROWERS staff – under the guidance of Rocky Point cane growing legend Lindsay Mischke – helped introduce primary school students from across Southeast Queensland to the world of sugarcane.

Students learned how cane is grown, how it is turned into sugar, and how the crop can be used to make a wide range of products, from green electricity and biodiesel to packaging, plastics and even jet fuel.

They also had the chance to plant sugarcane billets in their very own mini “paddocks”.

CANEGROWERS Education Coordinator Shikira Kalatzis said the hands-on experience was designed to give students a memorable introduction to the industry.

“This is all about giving kids a positive experience of the industry and teaching them, in a fun and interactive way, what our industry does, how we do it, and why it’s important,” Shikira said.

“All of these kids have eaten sugar, but for most of them, this was the first time they had seen and held the plant it actually comes from. Some may not have even realised there is a sugar industry right here in Queensland.  

“They also learn that there are real job opportunities in the sugarcane industry – whether that’s on farm, in transport and logistics, at a sugar mill, or working in research or agronomy. There is a huge variety of careers connected to this industry.

“Of course, not every student who came through the stand will end up working in agriculture, but at least they now know a little more about sugarcane and the communities built around it.”

Rural Discovery Day is just one of the many ways CANEGROWERS is engaging school students, from Prep through to Grade 12.

In 2025, the peak body collaborated with Aussie icon George the Farmer to create the catchy tune The Sugarcane Train, introducing younger students to the industry in a fun and memorable way.

But George’s adventures in the sugar industry were far from over, with CANEGROWERS and George teaming up again to create a sweet new sugarcane-themed classroom experiment that teaches kids how to make their own rock candy.

The engaging classroom video also comes with curriculum-aligned teacher resources that tie the experiment back to both agriculture and science.

“It’s a really fun and engaging way to get young kids thinking about where sugar comes from,” Shikira said.

That early connection can then be built on in later grades through CANEGROWERS’ suite of classroom resources for primary and high school students.

Created in collaboration with the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia, these curriculum-aligned resources focus on agriculture, science and career pathways.

“Overall, our education initiatives have been a huge success and something CANEGROWERS is very proud of,” Shikira said.

“For a long time, our members have told us they want to see the positive story of sugarcane taught in our classrooms – the story of an industry with a long and proud history, that supports more than 20,000 Queensland jobs, is the lifeblood of many regional communities, and contributes significantly to the Queensland economy.

“But it is also the story of an innovative industry with a major role to play in Queensland’s renewable energy future – from biofuels and green electricity to the next generation of low-emissions products.

“That’s what we’re doing through our education initiatives, and we’ll keep getting that message into schools.”

CANEGROWERS will be back at Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds in August for the annual Ekka celebrations, where up to 10,000 visitors are expected to visit the industry stand.