TEN young people will vie for the Marsh Rural Ambassador Awards at this year’s Royal Queensland Show.
The awards are open to males and females, 20 to 30 years old, who have a strong commitment to rural industries and an involvement and passion for the agricultural show movement.
It aims to highlight the importance of young people in rural and regional Queensland, in particular, those associated with the agricultural show movement.
The award seeks young people who symbolise the rural spirit - people with vitality who are forward thinking and with a passion for the land and local agricultural shows.
The state winner will compete at the national final to be held at a state royal show.
Here are the finalists and their stories.
Tobias Worley, Boonah Show Society, is representing the West Morton Brisbane Valley Sub-Chamber. After studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland Gatton Campus Tobias undertook a graduate Diploma of Teaching and Leaning at the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Campus. Tobias has always had a keen interest in the agricultural show movement including regularly attending the Boonah Show. This interest increased when he joined the junior show society where he assisted with stewarding, general duties, organising the Friday night games and fundraising. Since graduating from school he has been serving on the management committee and began the show societies Facebook page. He is the chief steward of the Ute show at Boonah, steward of the farm produce at Boonah and Esk and the junior vice president at Esk as well as an exhibitor at many shows in his sub chamber.
Brendan Brieffies, Clermont Show Society, Central Highlands Sub-Chamber, has been exhibiting with his family’s horses in the hacking ring at numerous shows throughout central Queensland for many years. He is always willing to lend a hand when not competing and assists with stewarding duties in the hack and jump rings at shows around the circuit. Having grown up on a property between Mackay and Nebo on his families farm he always had an interest for agriculture. This interest led him to study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the James Cook University where he graduated and was awarded the NQAVA Citizenship award. He has also completed an Australian Livestock Export Stockman’s course as well as since graduating and completing an Essentials of Equine Dentistry and is currently in the process of becoming National Cattle Pregnancy Diagnosis accredited. Brendan hopes that being a veterinarian he can contribute to farmers becoming more productive by offering management tools and advice. As he becomes more experienced in the veterinarian field he hopes to continually value add to the rural community
From a young age TeAna Riddell, Noosa Show Society, Near North Coast Sub-Chamber, loved attending the local show. She entered in the junior art sections and competed in the pony club games. In 2014 she entered the Noosa Miss Showgirl competition and then felt this was a natural progression to enter rural ambassador. She has now taken on the responsibility within her show society as showgirl and rural ambassador ateward as well as joining the management committee. TeAna is a teacher and wants to get kids excited about STEM and careers within. TeAna’s main agricultural interest is with horses, as a member of the local pony club attendance at sporting events at local shows. Moving forward she would like to learn more about cattle and through the shows she hopes to gain much knowledge in this field.
Robert Johnson, Sarina Show Society, Central Queensland Sub-Chamber, has a wonderfully diverse association with agricultural shows. From primary school age he competed in school exhibits and exhibited his family’s cane and beef cattle. For the past six years Robert has lent his hand to junior handlers and judges competitions, been a show handler and stud groom as well as had the opportunity to be an associate beef judge at the Mackay Show in 2012. Most recently he competed in the Horse versus Motorbike Challenge at the Pioneer Valley Show. Currently employed by Hastings Deering and completing a mechanical engineering trade Robert is also kept busy as a part time stud groom and being involved with the family cane and commercial beef cattle operations. He has also obtained both a Certificate 1 and 2 in Engineering, Certificate 1 in Resources and Infrastructure operations, Certificate 1 in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparations and Queensland Certificate of Education. He hopes to use his skills and knowledge on the family farm, enabling his family’s passions and agricultural interests to become more sustainable.
Ewan Rockemer, Teebar Show Society, Burnett Sub-Chamber, began cattle handling and junior judging at agricultural shows at eight years of age. He has competed in led steer competitions, show campdrafts and assists as a ring steward at prime cattle shows at Maryborough and Biggenden. He and his family have always been heavily involved in the running of the Teebar Show, for which he is vice president. Having completed his Certificates 1,2,3 and 4 as well as his Diploma in Agriculture Ewan was able to travel and work on many cattle stations throughout Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia however is now working full time on the family property. He grew up on the land and is passionate about genetic improvement and meeting market specifications throughout his families commercial and stud herds. His main ambition is to continue the family legacy, improve and expand whilst being mindful to remain sustainable and viable.
Connie Coverdale, Millmerran Show Society, Darling Downs Sub-Chamber, began her agricultural show involvement in 2013 as the Millmerran Showgirl and since then has not looked back. She was allocated the position of junior vice president and promotions officer during which times she developed the Millmerran Show Facebook page as well as assisting where possible with the delivery of other aspects of show competitions. Connie continues to contribute to the pavilion through exhibiting in the photography, needlework and cooking sections. She is also a member of the junior show committee. Last year Connie moved to Toowoomba to complete research for her honour’s thesis which is related to soil nutrition and fertiliser use efficiency. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) through the University of Southern Queensland and hopes to graduate at the end of this year with a Graduate Certificate in Science (Chemistry). She hopes to complete a teaching qualification and to teach agricultural science and use this to encourage young people to have involvement in the industry that built our nation.
Kaila Ridgway, Cairns Show Society, North Queensland Sub-Chamber, began her agricultural show involvement with stud cattle young judges and paraders competitions. She has found being the North Queensland Rural Ambassador very rewarding and an educational experience and believes the networks, culture and life skills she has developed are priceless. The most valuable being the awareness of how vital the local shows are for all aspects of agriculture. Kaila studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours at the University of Queensland Gatton Campus. This opened her up to a diverse and exciting world of agriculture, she focused on plant and soil health (agronomy science) in order to support the food industry to create better quality and nutritious food so farmers can produce larger quantities to feed the world’s ever growing population. Along with participating in general community events, she is also involved with local grower groups including the Atherton Tablelands Avocado Growers Association where she has been elected secretary. Kaila is also in the process of developing a ‘Next Gen’ group for North Queensland, for which she is also secretary.
Justin Matthews, Nanango Show Society, South Burnett Sub-Chamber, has a wide range of involvement with agricultural shows, from the showing of led steers and Australian Stock Horses, to competing in prime cattle young judges, herdsman and team challenges and stewarding in for many sections. In addition to this he also volunteers as a media supplier through his photography skills to many shows. Justin is in his final year of university at the University of Queensland, Gatton Campus and completed a Bachelor of Applied Science, Animal Production (Ext. Major). His ambition is to work within the dairy or pig production sectors, particularly in the field of the applications of artificial breeding technologies. Within these areas he would like to work within the industry using these technologies to develop better, more capable animals that are better equipped to handle their environmental surroundings. He is passionate about connecting with people from outside of the rural environment, telling them his story and then answering questions and helping to “bust” some of the myths often associated with rural life.
Lauren Trenkner, Brookfield Show Society, South East Queensland Sub-Chamber, has been involved with the agricultural show movement as an exhibitor for 20 years and has exhibited in the horticulture, cookery, poultry, waterfowl and horse events. More recently she has become the chief steward of the waterfowl section and in addition to this she also has the role as assistant operations manager. It has been through this and managing the bar during the show that she has been able to increase the community and volunteer involvement in her local show. Lauren has also been the vice president of the Brookfield Show for the past three years. She has completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with honours, which has led her into doing a PhD with CSIRO working on sustainable aquaculture feeds. Through her studies she has developed a range of skills, the most relevant being management of communicating to others about the balance between the practical aspect of rural life with the development of the ground breaking research to build on the acquisition of skills and knowledge. Lauren is also an active member of the local fire service and has represented her community at three state fire-fighting championships
Colin Worsfold, South West Sub chamber, Taroom Show Society, grew up participating in horse events and led steer competitions at his local agricultural show. In recent years he has assisted with the planning, implementation and participation of the bronco branding as part of the entertainment program. More recently, he became more involved with the show as a committee member and believes seeking out the “wow” factors that put Taroom community and putting them on show would be a great success. He has completed an apprenticeship as a refrigeration mechanic with Haden Engineering, for which he received apprentice of the year. Following this he headed overseas to work on ranches in America and Canada. Colin has also completed a Certificate III in Electrotechnologies, Certificate II in Boiler Making and a school-based agriculture certificate. One of Colin’s greatest achievements was winning many rodeo competitions with bull riding and bareback riding in Australia and overseas and being the CMSA (Cowboy Mounted Shooting) World Champion for 2015.
