Taste the best of the west for Big Skies Festival 2020

Slow-cooked prime smoked home-grown Wagyu beef from Jimbour Station will set the foodie scene for Big Skies Festival 2020 as producers start preparing for more than 3,000 visitors to the Western Downs from 29 April to 3 May.

The region has rejoiced in recent rain, which has turned the dusty country ground into a green oasis just in time for the crowds.

Russell Pastoral Company (RPC) Jimbour House’s Adam Armstrong said while the rain is a welcome relief, it will take months if not years for the farmers to return to normality – and Big Skies offers the perfect opportunity to let people know we’re open for business and continuing to offer top-quality beef to the hungry crowds.

“What people often don’t know is that we had to offload large numbers of our breeding stock to survive and in some cases it will take at least five years to return to normal,” Mr Armstrong said.

“This is why we are still so grateful for the thousands of visitors who will come and spend money in our region when we’re doing it tough.

“Visitors will get a taste of some amazing produce and we will be putting on quite the feed with top quality Wagyu beef ready for the crowds at the Chef’s Table exclusive culinary event, as well at the Camp Kitchen Experience.

“We’ll have the tastiest, juiciest, most tender slow-cooked meat you could possibly imagine with herbs and spices from the historical Jimbour Garden.

“We want people to walk away from their Big Skies Festival experience craving more and coming back year on year – we have no doubt they will be impressed!”

RPC is teaming up with Smo-King Barbeque for the new and improved Camp Kitchen Experience, using their finest home-grown lamb and Wagyu beef.

Smo-King Barbeque Owner Darren Keyte – who is a butcher by trade – started working on the smoking business when the region was hit with drought in 2014.

“Our smoker makes average meat good, so when you use quality meat product– like we’re doing at Big Skies – it’s exceptional,” Mr Keyte said.

“It’s exciting to work with Adam and the team – this will be one of our biggest jobs. We have planned this so visitors can experience a quality meal with some of region’s finest produce.

“We invested in a large smoker that will ensure that everyone has the perfect piece of steak or meat of their choosing.”

The Camp Kitchen Experience costs $29 per person, per night on Thursday 30 April and Friday 1 May as well as breakfast on the Friday to Sunday.

The Western Downs is home to nearly one quarter of Queensland’s beef producing properties, so a slow-cooked Wagyu beef will be a highlight for visitors.

The Big Skies Festival is all about experiencing the best of the west from 29 April to 3 May, indulging in delicious Western Downs produce, exploring the region through Agricultural and Energy tours, and rocking out to some of Australia’s greatest artists.

The two-day concert tickets are just $150 and camping is available from 29 April to 3 May.

Arrow Energy and Tourism Events Queensland proudly supports Big Skies Festival. For more information visit bigskiesevents.com.au.

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Media Contact:

Western Downs Regional Council Media Office                                                07 4679 4265