THE Land Sydney Royal Showgirl 2015 Ellie Stephens is NSW shows' newest ambassador, and it just so happens she's the right-hand woman of one of our own.
As Ellie was crowned the winner of the state title in front of a full auditorium at Sydney's showgrounds yesterday, sitting proudly in the crowd was her partner Rowan O'Hara - the president of Queensland Shows' Next Generation committee.
When a chuffed Rowan spoke to Queensland Country Life this morning he was clearly delighted his first lady owned the spotlight below the border.
"I wouldn't have been anywhere else," he said.
"Basically I told her how proud I was of her and how inspirational she is in agriculture and to many young women."
POWER COUPLE: The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl 2015 Ellie Stephens with her partner Rowan O'Hara, Queensland Shows' Next Gen president.
The couple first met at a show workshop in 2013, hosted by the Showmen's Guild of Australasia at Yatala.
Ellie, a business development manager for a Lismore accounting firm, was a next generation representative for her show society's new youth committee.
She'd joined the Lismore Show Society four years earlier as a way to get involved in her new community, after relocating with family from their drought-stricken property near Coolah.
Ellie's commitment to the show movement grew from there; encouraged further by her meeting with Rowan and the enthusiasm of Queensland Shows' members.
"Well we just stayed in touch, not for any other reason than we offered to help our comrades out in trying to get their next gen committee started," Rowan said.
The relationship developed after a brief run-in at the Brisbane Royal Show in August last year, brought together by a passion for the show movement.
Since Ellie's win, the interstate show duo is looking forward to attending more events together over the coming 12 months for what "will be a busy year".
"It's been a fantastic opportunity to network and bring the show movement in both states together to ensure the sustainability and viability within country shows in Australia," Ellie said.
The 22-year-old dismissed suggestions her new sashing cemented their status as the new country show power couple, more eager to give her Queensland partner a run for his money in her own right.
"The identity crisis is pretty tough in our relationship," Ellie laughed.
"Well I guess you could say he's now the first man of The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl or maybe it's Mister - I don't know."
Second place in the The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition was Camden Show Society's Kate Boardman, an animal genetics officer for Riverlea Piggeries Australia in Corowa.
Third place was Tweed River Agriculture Society's Ema Marks, a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture student.
