Meet the 2023 Qld Rural Ambassador Awards entrants
From medical students to engineers, irrigation jillaroos and business owners, these young men and women are emerging leaders of the state’s agricultural industry and will be competing for the top gong at the Brisbane Ekka.
Bundaberg
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First launched in 2003, the Queensland Rural Ambassador awards have become a key program to showcase the hard work and dedication of hundreds of young Queenslanders across the state.
Ten finalists will meet at the Royal Brisbane Show, which runs August 12-20, to compete for the grand prize.
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They have been selected as representatives of their regions to share the stories, struggles and successes of those in the agricultural industry.
Queensland Ag Shows credits the program which has become the “the pre-eminent rural and agricultural leadership program” while also providing unique personal development opportunities for all involved.
It “allow(s) young people to promote Queensland, agriculture, rural communities and show societies, while providing an avenue for local communities and Ag Shows to recognise, celebrate and develop future leaders.”
Queensland Ag Shows will celebrate 20 years of awards at a celebration dinner at Royal on the Park on Saturday, August 19, where the 2023 Queensland Rural Ambassador will be announced.
2023 Qld Rural Ambassador awards finalists
Brianna Barron, Darling Downs
As a long-time contributor to her local Cooyar Show, Brianna Barron is excited to represent her region and her home town in this year’s Rural Ambassador state finals.
In her role as secretary for the Cooyar Show, Brianna enjoys being able to work with every aspect of the show.
“The reason I entered the Rural Ambassador competition was to meet and network with a diverse range of like-minded people who share the same passion for the agricultural industry and show movement as myself,” she said.
“I have grown up volunteering from a very young age and my involvement and commitment to the committee got stronger as I got older.”
Brianna is not unfamiliar with the type of judging she will undergo at the Ekka, with years of experience in the Young Judges and Handlers sphere and as the 2017 Cooyar Showgirl.
She said she was honoured to be selected to represent Darling Downs, the largest sub chamber in the state for the Ekka.
“I have already had so many great opportunities and met so many inspiring people on my journey as a Rural Ambassador which is only going to develop into more opportunities as the journey continues to the Ekka and beyond.”
Matthew Petty, West Moreton Brisbane Valley
Matthew Petty has had a lifetime of involvement with local shows in the West Moreton Brisbane Valley, from showing to judging cattle.
The Marburg local will represent the Marburg Show Society and the West Moreton Brisbane Valley Sub Chamber at the 2023 Royal Brisbane Show, after several years of vying for the position.
“I ran for Rural Ambassador in 2021, representing Marburg show but at regional finals unfortunately didn’t place,” he said.
“I ran again for Marburg in 2022; won that and then regional finals in September 2022. I was awarded as the winner to represent the West Moreton Brisbane Valley Sub Chamber for Rural Ambassador.”
“I was shocked to hear my name get called out and deep down I was kind of proud of myself for pushing and continuing with achieving the award as I’m a shy person who keeps to myself.”
Since the nomination in September of 2022, Matthew has been looking towards the 2023 Ekka, and while he has attended in a cattle judging capacity several times is excited about the new opportunities the Rural Ambassador program will offer.
“It will be great to spend time talking and sharing information and ideas with other like minded people., he said.
Rikki Payne, North Queensland
Rikki Payne, 23, is known as the irrigation jillaroo in her home town of Malanda, and despite being the Malanda Show Society’s first ever Rural Ambassador she is on track to do her region proud.
“I have always wanted to be able to represent my town, and to encourage the youth to take part in the show,” Miss Payne said.
After dipping her toes in the show world at age 12 in the cattle ring, Miss Payne has spent more than a decade supporting and helping her local show society.
In 2016, she also ran for and won the Dairy Queen Quest, the region’s cattle focused equivalent to the showgirl program, and plans to use that wealth of experience to guide her through the Queensland Rural Ambassador program.
Much like the North Queensland Sub Chamber Showgirl Jessie Gofton, Miss Payne has been preparing for the big event by attending her local shows including Cairns, Mossman, Atherton and Innes Vale which run during July.
“I have been going to a lot of the local shows which I represent just so I can get to know and get a good feel over what is individual and personal about each show,” she said.
“So, when I go down to Brisbane I can represent each show individually.”
Miss Payne thanked the keen support of local businesses Feather and Lace Photography and David Stokes Building for helping her on her journey.
William Ringrose, Central and North West
Jackaroo and livestock handler William Ringrose reflected on his years spent supporting his local Longreach Show Society, and the state’s show program with affection.
“As a kid I just went every year for sideshow alley, but after leaving school have slowly become more involved in the show and the agricultural aspect of it, especially the sheep and wool section,” he said.
He currently works with the Longreach Show Society, and has recently re-established the Longreach Show Whether trials after a seven year absence.
William has spent years in the livestock judging circle, with livestock management a passion of his which often keeps him busy on the family farm.
He is excited for the networking and learning opportunities the 2023 Rural Ambassador program will offer.
“I haven’t had a lot of spare time lately to prepare but whenever I’m on the motorbike behind a mob of sheep or doing a water run, I try to think of some of the questions that might get thrown my way,” he said.
“It’s going to be a pretty jam packed few days but I think there’s going to be heaps to learn and hopefully plenty of fun on the side as well.”
Mikaela Sima, Near North Coast
As a long-time Gympie local, Mikaela Sima has perhaps one of the sweetest family connections to her local show society.
“The love for the Gympie Show is a longstanding tradition in our family with my late great grandparents’ wedding anniversary always falling on the show weekend so as a family we made the show an annual family affair to meet up together,” she said.
“My great grandparents celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at the show and this was a family highlight for me.”
As a Gympie Show Society committee member, Mikaela has spent years volunteering with the society from pavilion entries to winning the 2015 Showgirl.
She also has a history with the Rural Ambassador program, running as the Gympie Show Society nominee in 2016 and going on to take out the Near North Coast Sub Chamber finals in 2017.
“I then went on to become the showgirl and rural ambassador coordinator for three years,” she said
Then Fruit and Veg committee member, OHSS delegate, Deputy Chief of Pavilion, management committee and part of the social media team currently.”
Despite now being an old hat in the Rural Ambassador ring, Mikaela said she was excited to make a return to the Ekka on behalf of her region.
“I’m most looking forward to networking with the fellow entrants and learning together the importance of the agriculture show movement is to Queensland on a personal level,” she said.
Lauren Young, South West
Lauren Young is one of the state’s most impressive agricultural representatives, with a number of accolades to her name.
She was a recipient of the prestigious Australian Wool Industry Horizon Scholarship, a Wool and Sheep representative for Art4Ag and was featured as one of eight individuals in Country Style Magazine in their Ag Next Gen Feature.
As a successful contracting business owner, Lauren is hoping to put all of these skills to good use when she represents the Dirranbandi Show Society and the South West Sub Chamber at the 2023 Ekka.
“It was very special to be selected at the South West Sub Chamber finals held in Charleville,” she said.
“It was a very strong competition and the other finalists are a credit to their show society’s, the agricultural industry and the Rural Ambassador program.”
She has a long history with the show society, and now serves as a committee member and Yard Dog Trials Steward.
While being a business owner has kept her busy, Lauren is doing everything she can to prepare for her Ekka arrival.
Bridie Fenech, Central Queensland
Like many Rural Ambassadors taking part in the 2023 program, Bridie Fenech has years of fond memories from her local shows.
“My family and I have a long history with the Sarina Show Society, having shown brahman cattle, competed in baking in the home economics, photography and art while at primary school,” she said.
“I have been nominated associate judge of brahmans section on several occasions, including the Ekka 2022, which was a memorable experience.”
As a full-time student studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Central Queensland University, Miss Fenech has used the Rural Ambassador program as a way of connecting on a deeper level with the Sarina Show Society.
“I have long held a sincere passion for my regional hometown, and this opportunity is a way to combine the promotion of community spirit alongside the agriculture sector,” she said.
“These ideals also sit nicely with my commitment to ensure equity in the provision of health services within the regional centres.”
Miss Fenech said she was honoured to be selected to represent her local show and sub chamber at the Ekka and was looking forward to returning to the show as a rural ambassador.
Tylen Wallace, Burnett
Attendees at the 2023 Ekka might recognise Bundaberg cattle grazier Tylen Wallace from his recent stint on Channel 9 and 9 Now’s newest reality show Rush.
The program whisked Tylen around the world in a series of timed and intense challenges, a world away from his family farm in Bundaberg.
The 2023 Bundaberg Show Society Rural Ambassador said he was going to draw on this incredible international experience as he headed into the 2023 Ekka program.
“The cultural experience was next to none,” he said.
He will also draw on his impressive social media following, which he has used to promote the state’s agricultural industry through cheeky and engaging videos highlighting the good, the bad and the ugly of the industry.
Carly Smith, South Burnett
Civil engineer Carly Smith said she was thrilled to be able to represent the Nanango Show Society and the South Burnett Sub Chamber after years spent attending her local show.
“From a young age going to our local show was always a highlight of the year, a chance to catch up with friends, explore the exhibits and showcase my own,” she said.
“One of my fondest memories as a kid was going to the Ekka with my family, it was always a big day travelling in the car and spending the day looking at all the exhibits from all over Queensland.”
A keen horsewoman, Carly can often be seen riding in the showring, but also is a helping hand for her local show society in the canteen.
She is not unfamiliar with representative roles, as the 2022 Nanango Show Society Showgirl.
While prior commitments prevented her from competing at the sub chamber level, she is looking forward to representing her region at the 2023 Ekka and has been busily preparing.
“I am super excited about going to the Ekka, my preparation has mostly been around the logistics of getting there and wearing the appropriate uniform,” she said.
“I’ve also been taking as many opportunities as I can at work to practice my public speaking skills and trying to keep up to date with local agricultural issues our state is facing.”
The South East Queensland Subchamber was unable to secure a Rural Ambassador for 2023, but is looking towards 2024.
Harrison Lehman will represent the Central Highlands Sub Chamber and the Alpha Show Society.
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