Family.

From breeders to sideshow alley stall operators, it seems everyone's favourite part of the Ekka is the community spirit that comes alive every year.

Fairfax Media asked people of the Ekka what it takes to get ready and what the 10-day show means to them.

Photo: Amy Mitchell-Whittington

Dorper sheep breeder Sandra Green

Mrs Green and her husband have about 50 years of Ekka experience between them and have been showing Dorpers for the past decade.

"It is a lot of work to get an animal to the Royal Show because the competition is extremely tough," she said.

"I am planning what we will enter next year now and just seeing how these go today and what young stock we have coming on.

"I make the decision in the paddock, because if an animal looks good in the paddock it will look good in the showring."

Mrs Green said there were a number of attributes she looked for when choosing the right animal to take to the show.

"(It needs to be) walking out on a really good set of legs, the weight gain, it needs to be particularly muscly, not overly fat but good muscle culture, its length and a nice head," she said.

"An old judge told me many years ago if you were judging and you really weren't too sure what you were doing you would look at something that had a good head.

"It wouldn't matter what breed it was, the rest would follow."

Mrs Green said she always looked forward to being a part of the tight-knit community.

"The Ekka is a family within the animal breeds and the farmers, the country coming to the city, it is going to become very sophisticated," she said.

"It is still an extended family and there is hundreds of people you might only see once a year but they are still family."

Photo: Amy Mitchell-Whittington

Sideshow Alley stall operator Alma Tuhoro

This year was the first time the Gold Coast local, 20, worked at the Ekka and she said she had to get "mentally prepared" before she started.

"I didn't have shifts at work so my Aunty who runs a bunch of the stores, I asked her if she needed help for the Ekka and she said yeah, so I jumped in," she said.

"She told me that I would be standing on my feet walking around heaps so I just mentally prepared for that I guess, there was a bit of training as well."

Ms Tuhoro said while Wednesday was "hectic" she loved working in an exciting atmosphere.

"It is fun being around the music and all the other stalls and meeting other workers," she said.

"For me, the Ekka means people coming together and fun and entertainment."

Photo: Amy Mitchell-Whittington

Strawberry sundae supervisor Abby Mavrenski

Ms Mavrenski has been coming to the Ekka for as long as she can remember, but in more recent years has taken up a supervisor role at the famous strawberry sundae stalls.

"I am here for most days at the Ekka to schedule the volunteers and help them to produce the ice creams," she said.

"The reason I come to the Ekka is for this, I look forward to helping out but for one day I will come to the EKKA and go on the rides and look around.

"Going to the Ekka is a tradition for my family."

She said a few things had changed over the years at the showgrounds.

"It has changed a bit. Where Rydges is now, I remember when I was little there used to be caravans there," she said.

"The pavilion with the showbags isn't there any more, they are in a different spot.

"It has dramatically changed since I can remember, but it's not a bad thing that it has changed."

For Ms Mavrenski, the Ekka means gorging yourself on the tastes, sights and experiences of the Brisbane show.

"Every time I go to the Ekka it is this happy fun time to celebrate and gorge yourself as much as possible on Dagwood Dogs, strawberry sundaes, get your show bags and go on all the rides," she said.

"I think it is a really family fun time, or even just with friends, it is just a really good time, good for Brisbane city."

Photo: Amy Mitchell-Whittington

Strapper Jennifer Swaine

Ms Swaine and her daughter came to this year's Ekka to show Sonny, a large horse that had been entered into three competitions.

"I am the strapper so I help to make him look pretty before they go out into the ring," she said.

"We have placed in every class but none of the big ribbons unfortunately."

The Sunshine Coast local has been preparing horses and showing them for the last few years and said it took a lot of work.

"There is a lot of work to get your horse to go right, look good, perform well and even then there is no guarantee it is going to work out in the ring," she said.

"It is this horse's big royal and the atmosphere is quite electric out there and the harness don't make it easy for them to concentrate.

"He has gotten better each time he has gone out there."

For Ms Swaine the Ekka means that the show season is coming to an end and a great chance to catch up with those people you haven't seen all year.

"It is nice thing to do, you catch up with people you haven't seen in years," she said.

"It still retains that great country atmosphere and the prices aren't bad once you're inside, it is not a bad way to spend a week."

Photo: Amy Mitchell-Whittington

QCWA members Mary Traise and Mary Martyn

Both Marys have been volunteering their time at the Queensland Country Women's Association stall near the main arena for a number of years and love being able to give back to their community.

"We are here to raise funds to the QCWA to distribute to country people that we support," Ms Traise said.

"There is 12 months of planning by a committee, paperwork and discussions, ordering and getting licenses and permits."

Ms Traise said while the Ekka meant 10 days of hard work, she said it was worth if for the company.

"I was looking forward to the companionship of all these lovely ladies, we have a ball," she said.

Ms Martyn said she loved seeing new generations come through the doors of the QCWA stall.

"We have people see for many years and we even see their children grow up, it is one of those wonderful things," she said.