Aussie Helpers urge Queenslanders to 'buy' an Ekka...

It would have been People's Day at the Ekka today, Wednesday, one of the best opportunities rural producers have to showcase the fruits of their labours in front of the urban public.

Instead, the lanes are empty and all those producers are at home, unable to share their story and efforts for the second year in a row.

Tash Kocks, the CEO of rural charity Aussie Helpers, is hoping that the goodwill that is usually generated by the event can be channelled into a 'showbag' of donations for their ongoing work instead, via an online portal.

"It's not just about the amount of money raised, although that always goes to the places that need it most," she said.

"It's about creating awareness of what the cancellation of the Ekka means to these people.

"After years of drought, some are finally having a bumper season and there's good prices for their product, and then it's like Christmas is cancelled."

Ms Kocks said the much-looked-forward to event was as much about networking and social interaction as it was about winning prizes, and the loss of that was a mental blow.

"We felt it would be lovely to remind farmers that all their hard work was not unnoticed or unappreciated," she said.

Recipients will include NSW stud cattle breeders Casey and Nigel Wieck, who spent six months preparing their herd for the show, and transported a dozen staff to the cancelled event, costing tens of thousands in revenue.

Ms Kocks said there had been a very positive reception to the online portal accessed via the Aussie Helpers webpage, with plenty donating the price of their Dagwood Dog or entry ticket.

The charity assists farming families through financial aid and the supply of donations, education support and mental health support, and Ms Kocks said there was still a lot of need out there.

"It depends on the area but in northern NSW the mouse plague is still there with a vengeance - I saw in one place where they'd chewed through a wall - and at Boulia, where we had a hay day recently, it still looks like the surface of Mars."

Founded in 2002 by Nerida Egan OAM and the late Brian Egan OAM, the not-for-profit that began with a $20 raffle, is entirely privately funded through donations and sponsorships.

"We are honoured to have assisted more than 13,000 farming families," Ms Kocks said.

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The story Ekka People's Day plan gives back to the bush first appeared on Queensland Country Life.