Royal Melbourne Show: Meet the 13 finalists for Rural Ambassador Award
Meet the 13 finalists for this year’s Victorian Rural Ambassador Award, including Meaghan Venables who will be thinking a lot about the next generation of show goers this week.
THE big question the finalists of the Rural Ambassador Award must address this weekend is how to engage the next generation to contribute to their local show and wider community.
For Meaghan Venables, the question has a certain immediacy to it.
The 22-year-old, who is representing the Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society, is due to give birth to her first child this weekend, the same time as the finals of the Victorian Agricultural Shows competition at the Royal Melbourne Show.
On Sunday, each of the 13 finalists will make a speech on engaging the next generation, and Meaghan admits she thought about her growing bump as she considered what she would say.
“That was a lot in the thought process — how am I going to encourage you (the baby) to get involved in agricultural shows and the greater community, and what can we put in place to make sure that you get the benefits?” she said
“I basically wrote a letter to the future generation encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and embrace their own talents and their own belief in what they can bring to a show.”
Meaghan did not grow up on a farm or rural property, but that did not stop her joining the show committee four years ago.
She is a dressmaker and upholsterer, and is involved in organising the pavilion events at her local show.
“I just think having somebody who is outside agriculture is really important too because we can give a different perspective on different components of the show, like the pavilion. And they’re all key parts of developing a really successful show as well.”
Meaghan, Cardinia Shire’s young citizen of the year this year, introduced a make-and-wear competition to the show three years ago. Entrants must make a fully functional garment that fits a theme set each year.
The numbers of entrants dropped off in the second year, but Meaghan said she was encouraged by one of the stewards to not give up on the concept.
“The one thing I have got out of it is the friendships and community support that a lot of the committee has given me in all my endeavours.”
So what is she going to do if the big day for the competition is D-Day for the baby?
“They always say the first one never comes on time — I hope that this is true.”
MEET THE OTHER FINALISTS
STEPHANIE ANTHONY
Barham-Koondrook show society
Stephanie, who has a decade’s worth of experience in real estate and marketing, has had a lifelong involvement in the Wakool, Barham and Deniliquin shows as an exhibitor and organiser.
She is passionate about building resilient rural communities, future-proofing her home town and invigorating her local show.
She also hopes to inspire other young community members to become involved in the show and local community.
ALEXANDER BAIN
Beaufort show society
A childhood spent on a sheep farm has given Alexander an appreciation of the values, skills and freedom provided by growing up on the land.
The Beaufort Agricultural Show has been a constant presence in his life, and he has been a competitor, steward, volunteer and youth committee member.
Alexander is currently studying construction management and architecture at Deakin University in Geelong, and plans to work in commercial construction when he graduates in November.
CATHERINE BATES
Nhill show society
The 2016 dairy crisis caused by the farmgate price crashes sparked Catherine’s interest in rural and regional issues.
Catherine was originally from Melbourne, but her teaching career took her to Colac — where she was when the crisis hit — then to Nhill, where she has lived for the past three years.
She participates and leads many arts-based community groups and co-founded a performing arts program for school-aged students in Nhill.
She is also part of the Nhill Town Committee and local netball team and assists in organising and providing entertainment for the Nhill Show.
GRACE CALDER
Ballarat show society
Grace may not have grown up on the land, but is now deeply involved in the agriculture sector.
She is a committee member for the Victorian Sheep Show, a successful sheep exhibitor with her Corriedale stud, Kinatura, and a highly regarded sheep judge.
She also works as an electronic identification expert with Agriculture Victoria.
She studied agricultural science and business at university, as well as a Certificate IV in training and assessment.
ANNETTE CAVANAGH
Yea show society
Bringing together agriculture and caring for the environment is a passion for Annette, who grew up at Homewood, near Yea.
She has been president of her local Yellow Creek-Dairy Creek Landcare group for the past two years. She also recently founded Upper Goulburn Intrepid Landcare Tribe to encourage 18- to 35-year-olds to be involved in environmental conservation and reduce youth isolation.
She studied environmental science and wildlife and conservation biology at university, and works as a botanist with an ecological consulting company in Hawthorn East.
AMABEL GRINTER
Cobram show society
Amabel grew up on her family’s dairy farm and hopes one day to be a leader within that same industry.
She followed up her experience with dairy operations by studying agricultural science at university and last year was sponsored to go to the UK and learn about showing cattle.
Amabel has been involved with scouts and the local show, where she has been both an exhibitor and organiser.
She wants to make the Cobram Show — of which she was junior rural ambassador in 2014 — appealing and affordable for families.
EMMA HENNE
Seymour show society
Since attending youth cattle handlers camps as a child, Emma’s passion for agriculture — especially beef cattle and agronomy — has grown.
While completing her school and university studies in agriculture, she helped with bull sales and worked at royal and country shows, mainly in the cattle ring.
Emma works as an agronomist and store manager in Seymour, but also has experience from her parents’ Poll Hereford Stud and a short stint in the dairy industry.
She is a cattle judge and helped organise two agronomy-based competitions in Seymour this year.
JORDAN HOBAN
Wodonga show society
Jordan was raised on a cattle property, and the love of cattle led her into the show ring and also to a career in agriculture.
Now an animal health officer with Agriculture Victoria, when she is not fulfilling her role as a Wodonga Show steward — running and assisting with eight different sections — Jordan spends her spare time at a local primary school, where she teaches children how to show cattle.
Jordan has been a member of the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging team; a winner at the National Merino Challenge; a LambEx Young Gun; and a Rural Agricultural Society of NSW Rural Achiever finalist.
LUCY POWELL
Noorat show society
With a background in racing, horses, retail and farm work, Lucy has a strong desire to advise young people about the opportunities within the agricultural industry.
The 22-year-old agronomist for Webber and Chivell Fertilisers is the Noorat and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s rural ambassador and also a committee member, running the show’s horse events.
In her spare time, Lucy enjoys competing with her horses across the region and long-distance running.
GENEVIEVE SAUNDERS
Benalla show society
Competing in agricultural shows runs in Genevieve’s blood.
She is a fifth-generation show horse competitor, participating at agricultural shows throughout Victoria and NSW her entire life.
In 2016, after six years on the Benalla show society committee, she became secretary and welcomed the challenge to innovate so her two kids would always have a local show to attend.
Genevieve was the 2010 Victorian Agricultural Shows Junior Ambassador runner-up and also the 2012 Equestrian Victoria Young Ambassador.
HOLLY WEBB
Maffra show society
Holly lives on her family’s dairy farm near Maffra, but it is a love of horses that shines through in this finalist.
The 22-year-old, who is Maffra Agricultural Show Society’s junior vice-president, has
competed in showjumping and other ring events at agricultural shows across Australia.
Holly also teaches young people at the Stratford Pony Club and works at rural merchandising store BrownWigg, in Maffra, as a shop assistant, while studying part time for a diploma of nursing.
ZOE WEIR
Donald show society
Zoe is a primary school teacher and by participating in the awards hopes to be a role model to her students, demonstrating the opportunities that exist in communities of any size.
Zoe grew up on a cropping farm at Birchip and teaches at Donald Primary School.
She plays and coaches netball, enjoys horseriding and bush walking, especially in the Grampians.
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