Generations of Mackenzie Wilson's family have been involved in the Gawler Show since her great grandparents first showed their dairy cattle there.
The 18 year old is ensuring the family tradition continues but also wants other young people to feel connected to their local show.
Ms Wilson from Cockatoo Valley, representing the Northern Agricultural Shows Association, was named the 2023 Young Rural Ambassador Award winner at a dinner on Friday night at the Adelaide Showground.
"I am beyond excited to take up this opportunity and beyond ecstatic to figure out what this opportunity will lead to and the endeavors it will take me on," she said.
In 2019 she was asked to help out at the show and has been hooked ever since, serving as the vice chairperson of the show's youth committee and its volunteer coordinator.
"Through that one weekend I was shown how tight knit the community are, like a second family with the committee and volunteers and how passionate they are about the agricultural aspects of the show but also the cooking and all the sewing," she said.
Ms Wilson -who is studying a double degree in journalism and professional writing as well as arts majoring in history and global politics at the University of SA - says she is keen to "put the rural" back into those country shows which are located in areas impacted by urban sprawl.
At this year's Gawler Show she says they are revamping the Agriculture Learning Centre and including a shearing demonstration and Jersey calving demonstration.
"If you look at towns like Gawler a lot of it was farming land 30 years ago," she said.
"We can teach kids from yay high to their early 20s (at shows) about rural experiences and the impact that the agricultural industry has on Australia and worldwide - it really is the backbone of Australia."
The runner-up was Daniella Yates representing the Eyre Peninsula.
In her gap year the 19 year old is on an adventure working as a governess on Inverleigh West Station near Normanton in the Qld Gulf Country.
In 2024 Ms Yates plans to commence a Bachelor of Agriculture and Agribusiness.
The Kimba Show has been a big part of her life from a young age entering arts and craft, photography and ag produce and she is now convenes the design and technology section.
As part of her prize Ms Wilson will spend a few days with the older age group (20-30 year old) Rural Ambassador state finalists receiving a behind the scenes look at the running of the Royal Adelaide Show.
PIRSA regional coordinator Barbara-Ann Cowey - who spoke on behalf of the panel of judges- said all seven finalists were "worthy winners" making the decision difficult.
She was hugely impressed by their depth of knowledge about their regions and the whole of SA.
"How many times do you have a conversation with someone who is under the age of 21 and can talk about regional employment, urban sprawl, school curriculum development, the need to engage youth and lead by example? but that is some of the comments we got today," she said.
"I hope you can hear just how comfortable that makes me that we have a lot of young people coming through that are going to do amazing things."
Young Rural Ambassador Award coordinator Jacqueline Francis said it was wonderful to be part of a program that connected like-minded young people from across the state.
"These connections can last for years and open doors and opportunities for all who give it a go," she said.
"Hearing them speak with passion about their shows and reasons for becoming involved with the award is always a highlight of the night."
