Legend Helen Allen Celebrated for 30 Years in Grain Judging
Former NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) staff member and retired cereal chemist Helen Allen has been honoured for her outstanding 30-year contribution to grain judging at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Helen began her career as a junior laboratory assistant at the Yanco Agricultural Institute and was first introduced to grain judging in the early 1990s, after accompanying her then-supervisor to the Show.
After learning the ropes under the guidance of DPI grain chemists Ted Jacob and Tony Blakeney, Helen took over judging responsibilities upon her supervisor’s retirement—and has led the section ever since.
“Ted and Tony really paved the way for me and from the very beginning, it has been a great joy to be around farmers who proudly produced these grains. They’ve given me a warm welcome every single year.”
Over the decades, Helen has become a cornerstone of the Show’s grain judging section, using her expertise in cereal quality, kernel development and varietal performance to evaluate entries from across NSW.
Helen believes the winning grain often comes down to consistency, cleanliness, uniformity, and sound kernel development- key indicators of both good farming practices and optimal growing conditions.
“It’s always a highlight of my year to come down to the Show. What stands out the most is how dedicated and collaborative the staff, volunteers and participants are in showcasing the best of the NSW agricultural industries,” Ms Allen said.
One of Helen’s initiatives was introducing a annual booklet of results for the District Exhibits, compiling data from grain samples across the north, south, east, and west of the state.
“We started presenting a booklet on the final day of judging, and the feedback has been incredible.
“Participants love seeing the detailed results—comparing how the same variety of grain performs across different regions. One variety might thrive in the South, but struggle in the West – its amazing to see and the results booklet helps everyone learn and improve.”
Helen’s long service in cereal chemistry—much of it spent at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute—has been instrumental in maintaining the integrity and high standard of the competition.
And despite stepping back from full-time work, Helen has no plans to retire from judging any time soon.
Group Director Dr Alison Bowman praised Helen’s dedication and noted that current NSW DPIRD staff Kathi Hertel – Technical Specialist Pulses and Oilseeds and Kevin Dodds – Development Officer Temperate Fruits are proudly continuing the tradition—Kathi judging pulses and oilseeds, and Kevin overseeing apples and pears in the District Exhibits in 2025.
“NSW DPIRD is proud to contribute its technical expertise to the Sydney Royal Easter Show each year, championing excellence in agricultural production, fostering education, and strengthening connections between industry and the broader community,” Dr Bowman said.
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2025/general/show-legend-helen-allen-honoured-for-30-years-of-dedication-to-grain-judging