THERE will be plenty of SA hopefuls bound for Sydney this week with two years of national Rural Ambassador and Young Judges finals to be held at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The 2021 national finals were scheduled to be held at the Ekka in Brisbane, Qld, last August but COVID forced the last minute cancellation of the event.
Agricultural Shows of Australia has decided to hold two years of competitions at Sydney, although each year's state winners will be judged separately.
The national 2021 and 2022 Ambassador winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Sunday night and the young judges competitions will be held over the coming fortnight as the RAS of NSW celebrates 200 years.
Reigning 2021 state Rural Ambassador Rebekah Rushton, Stockport, says she is "very, very excited" to represent SA, especially this year with the two groups of finalists.
"I am really looking forward to meeting both years of national finalists and forming networks across Australia and get ideas to bring back to my local show, my state show and other shows," she said.
Ms Rushton;s love of country shows began showing stud cattle for Seymour Vale Santa Gertrudis stud, Tungkillo at the Mount Pleasant show and the show's 2014 Young Rural Ambassador.
Later she founded Lakota Limousin stud and with her partner Sam Branson has recently added a Murray Grey stud.
Ms Rushton runs the beef cattle section at the Kapunda Show and is on the show's commitee. She believes it is really important for the future of country shows to get more youth involved in ageing committees.
"You are considered young on a show committee if you are 40 years old so to keep shows alive for future generations we need the young ones coming through, even those 15-16 year olds that just want to do a bit more in their community," she said.
It has been a whirlwind few months for Ms Rushton since winning the state title at the Murray Bridge Show in September last year.
I have no expectations but if I was to win I hope that I can be a strong role model for young people in the industry.
- REBEKAH RUSHTON
In December she gave birth to daughter Brooklyn and has been busy at Branson Farms running the fine wool Merinos and cattle as well as helping with the broad acre cropping.
In between she has managed to attend several SA country shows including Clare, Mount Pleasant and Uraidla & Summertown.
"I have no expectations but if I was to win I hope that I can be a strong role model for young people in the industry and show that you can a partner, you can be a mum and still do so many things in the community as well as help support other young people at the same time," she said.
Eudunda farmer Karl Milde says he is "tremendously honoured" to be given the chance to represent SA for the 2021 title and spend time with like-minded young people from across the country.
He says the Rural Ambassador program has been life changing developing his self-confidence and public speaking skills since his state win in 2019.
"It doesn't matter if you have been in shows for a long time or only a short time if you are passionate and show a desire to help you will be accepted and brought into the show community family," he said.
"They identify young people that have potential but have not quite utilised it and help them to be the best they can be."
He has focussed plenty of energy on his local show introducing a ewe hogget competition and a Merino Young Judges competition as well as an educational grains display similar to the Golden Grains display at the Royal Adelaide Show.
He has emceed for several show functions and says he would love the chance to promote country shows more widely.
"I do enjoy getting out and chatting to people about the program and country shows as much as I can," he said.
"We need to encourage those already involved in shows but also bring in outside people that can offer different opinions and ideas to keep country shows fresh."
Representing SA in the other 2022 finals are Dayna Grey (beef cattle young paraders and young judges); Brittany Liebich (dairy cattle judges); Tegan Afford (dairy cattle paraders); Cody Jones (meat sheep judge); Shania Cornish (Merino fleece judge) and Emi Hughes (Merino sheep judge).
Contesting the 2021 finals for SA are Victoria Clarke (alpaca judging); Angus Llewellyn (beef cattle judges); Alizah Fogden (beef cattle paraders); Bridget Liebich (dairy cattle judge); Courtney Afford (dairy cattle paraders); Tom Megson (meat sheep judge); Sophie Nuske (Merino fleece judge) and Emmeline Vivian (poultry).
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
