International flavour at Sydney's Royal Easter Show

The competitors are among more than 22,000 entries to be judged over the next 12 days at Australia's biggest agricultural show, which opens to the public on Thursday.

Everything from the most adept pig handler to the best miniature goat will be decided.

Lining up to hack into the hardwood are woodchoppers from the United States, Spain, Canada and New Zealand.

"We don't muck around ... it's a tough comp, and these exhibitors win substantial prize money but also kudos," said Murray Wilton, the show's general manager of agriculture.

This year's show boasts one of the largest ever contingents of international judges.

"They're casting their international eye on our exhibits, which is a wonderful thing," Mr Wilton said.

"The judges that are coming in from overseas are seeing a wide variety of produce, and beef breeds and sheep breeds and goats, and even flowers and garden displays."

There is an international flavour among the livestock, with the Canadian speckle park cattle a feature breed.

"We're going to have in excess of 200 head being judged here, and it's the largest gathering of speckle park ever in Australia," Mr Wilton said.

Sixteen-year-old Grace Carr from MacLean High school has spent the past week helping to get her school's speckle park cattle ready to show.

"They're looking pretty amazing right now," she said.

It's the first time at the show for the year 11 student who is also competing as a junior beef cattle judge.

"It's very busy but alot of fun ... it's definitely nerve wracking, but exciting at the same time," she told AAP.

MacLean High School head agriculture teacher Christopher Kirkland said 19 students had been preparing the cattle since October.

"The students have definitely put a lot of preparation in ... they broke them in really well, they've spent endless hours on the clipping and presentation of the animals," he said.

Australian Associated Press