Young Kaniva baker Caitlin Hendy is heading to the Melbourne Show to compete at the Victorian Agricultural Shows Junior Boiled Fruit Cake Competition, representing the Kaniva Show and Wimmera Agricultural Societies Association.

From a young age, Caitlin has been entering competitions at the Kaniva Show, encouraged by her mother. 

Cooking has become one of her favourite hobbies, with chocolate chip cookies among her favourite things to bake.

“I love cooking,” Caitlin said. 

“Mum taught me to bake, and I love cookbooks and looking at recipes online.”

Last year was Caitlin’s first time entering the junior boiled fruit cake competition at the Kaniva Show. 

Rather than choosing just one or two classes, she decided to enter as many competitions as she could.

“I decided to enter everything to give everything a go. I wanted to win the most points,” Caitlin said.

Her approach paid off. After successfully competing at the Kaniva Show, Caitlin progressed to the Wimmera Agricultural Societies Association, WASA, level, where she was surprised and delighted to take out the win and earn her place at the Melbourne Show.

Caitlin credits the feedback she received from the local baking judge at Kaniva with helping her improve her fruit cake before competing at WASA.

“It was the first time I’d made the fruit cake and it worked,” she said. 

Caitlin is now preparing for her first visit to the Melbourne Show, where she will compete against other young bakers from across Victoria.

While she is excited about the opportunity, Caitlin is also looking forward to seeing the entries and displays at the Melbourne Show. 

Her involvement with the Kaniva Show extends beyond competing – Caitlin also helps with stewarding in the pavilion, where she enjoys helping organise the displays and, in particular, the baking section.

At this year’s Kaniva Show, she will be back in the pavilion, looking forward to seeing the displays when they open and walking around the show with friends.

Caitlin’s journey began with small entries, including the five things in a lunchbox and fairy bread competitions, and her advice to other young people considering entering their local show is simple: “Try it, you’ll never know how far you go.”

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