Local show stewards named as emerging leaders in prestigious show awards

These youngsters from Oakey and Pittsworth have been named emerging leaders by the Queensland Show Awards. Here’s why:

Several local show stewards have been announced as finalists in the 2021 Emerging Leader category of the Queensland Shows Awards.

The awards, in their sixth year this year, are run by the Next Generation committee of Queensland Ag Shows and recognise excellence in the agricultural show movement.

The six finalists in the emerging leaders category are from Goondiwindi, Oakey, Malanda, Pittsworth, Blackbutt and Fraser Coast and were nominated by their show society for their demonstrated leadership in the local show community.

Next Generation president Kait Shultz said the awards were about recognising the next generation of leaders in the agricultural show movement.

Bec Skene, Pittsworth Show Society chief cattle steward.

Bec Skene, 29, was nominated by Pittsworth Show Society for her successes as a chief cattle steward.

In the middle of a devastating period of drought in 2020 which saw other shows cancel their cattle sections, Bec was able to attract entries for just over 160 head of cattle in classes from stud cattle to led steers.

She nearly doubled that in 2021.

Dale McVicar was nominated by the Goondiwindi Show Society.

Despite living in Gympie, 460km away, Dale is a dedicated poultry steward in Goondiwindi and is also chief steward of the Gympie Poultry Club.

During his tenure, Gympie’s numbers have increased to 650 birds per show.

At both shows, Dale has championed the replacement of the traditional “pen and paper” system with an electronic entry and scheduling processes.

Daniel Meacham, 31, is the junior vice president of Oakey Show Society.

The livestock buyer leveraged his network to successfully reintroduce a prime cattle show and sale, after a 25 year hiatus, as well as young judges competition.

A total of 76 head of cattle were entered into the show that first year with 75 per cent of the cattle selling the following day averaging above market prices at auction.

Dan Meacham, junior vice president of the Oakey Show Society.

The young judges competition attracted 28 students from four local high schools in its first year, and both competitions have strengthened since that first year, despite the impact of drought and COVID-19.

Also among the nominees are Melinda Wright, from the Fraser Coast, Leonie Nichols for her work at the Nanango and Blackbutt Shows, and Kate Stokes from Malanda.

“These young leaders as worthy of this recognition and are the leaders of the future in their communities and beyond,” Ms Shultz said.

The 2021 judges were Agricultural Shows of Australia chairman Rob Wilson, immediate past president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Geoff Smith, and show ring announcer Lyndsey Douglas.

The Awards will be announced during the Queensland Ag Shows Gala Dinner on Saturday. March 20, at the Roma Explorers Inn, to be held in conjunction with the 2021 Queensland Ag Shows Annual General Meeting at Roma Showgrounds.