Why youth involvement is crucial to keeping rural agriculture shows alive on the Fraser Coast and in Queensland

Youth involvement and agriculture show societies sticking together to support each other are the keys to keeping shows going into the future

(Top right) Year 10 Riverside Christian College Student Charlotte Ravenscroft with a black limousin cow at the Fraser Coast Ag Show. (Left) Warwick 2021 Showgirl and Next Gen representative Matilda Sly. (Bottom Left) an aerial photo of the show grounds. Photos: Stuart Fast

The Fraser Coast Agriculture Show has been running for many years and it’s more important than ever to get young people involved.

That’s the message from Queensland Shows Next Gen representative and Warwick 2021 Show Girl Matilda Sly.

Ms Sly said Next Gen’s role was to encourage youth involvement in regional shows and creating sustainable events for the future.

“Unfortunately this year the Fraser Coast doesn’t have a Show Girl or rural ambassador … hopefully I can connect and communicate with enough youth to have involvement next year,” she said.

“Being a Show Girl, it’s your job first and foremost to promote the show and to be a face throughout the show people can talk to.”

“They represent the show but also represent the community, it’s really important to have these people,” Ms Sly said.

While Ms Sly was the Warwick Show Girl, she said her coming up to the Fraser Coast was important as it connected Queensland shows together and they supported one another.

“We are all in the same boat, and when COVID-19 hit last year, we all felt the impact the same way,” she said.

“Just because I’m the Warwick Show Girl doesn’t mean I can’t influence Fraser Coast women to be involved in their local show.

Ms Sly said the Fraser Coast Ag Show said the atmosphere was incredible and noted visitors were smiling and getting involved in show activities.

“That’s how you know a show’s been successful, when patrons are happy and I can’t see a single person here is not happy,” she said.