Rural Ambassador Awards
Join the QLD Rural Ambassador Awards Working Group!
Contact Details
QLD Ag Shows Office
Queensland’s Premier Programme For Future Leaders
The Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards is the preeminent rural and agricultural leadership program for men and women aged between 20 and 30. Run by Queensland Ag Shows since 2003, the Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards allow young people to promote Queensland, agriculture, rural communities and show societies, while providing an avenue for local communities and Ag Shows to recognise, celebrate and develop future leaders.
Entrants participate in a program that is designed to help them grow, network, develop their skills and hone their ambitions, giving them the confidence to return to their communities and industries and assume leadership positions. One attribute the finalists have in common is an enduring commitment to and involvement in their communities. Most have grown up with ag shows in their blood and are significant contributors to their local shows.
The Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards bring together eleven finalists annually who represent eleven regions across the state (Burnett, Central Highlands, Central North West, Central Queensland, Darling Downs, Near North Coast, North Queensland, South Burnett, South East Queensland, South West Queensland, and West Moreton & Brisbane Valley) for an unforgettable and formative state final experience at the Ekka (aka Royal Queensland Show).
What’s the process?
The selection process requires entrants to have won at a local competition followed by their sub-chamber competition to qualify for the state program. The Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards brings together 11 sub-chamber finalists annually.
Over four days at the Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards State Final, the 11 Queensland finalists enjoy tours with Agforce, Australian Country Choice, Ekka behind-the-scenes, camel farming and dairy operations; dine with dignitaries and leaders from parliament, industry and the council of the royal show; meet with media and sponsors, and speak in the main ring in front of tens of thousands of Ekka Patrons. The winner then competes in the National Rural Ambassador final hosted by Agricultural Shows of Australia, as the Queensland Rural Ambassador.
What’s involved at a local level?
The local experience is uniquely different at each Local Show from year to year and is reflective of the finalist’s experience and interest within their local Ag Show and Agricultural Interests.
Confirm your interest by contacting your local show and if you are not sure who to contact, reach out to the state committee and we will assist you to put you in touch with your local show
Partners Of The Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards
We are proud to partner with like-minded companies and organisations who share a passion for celebrating young rural leaders and the success of regional Queensland and its agricultural industries.
Over the years, our Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards partners have successfully activated their sponsorship through:
- Conducting tours of their facilities
- Offering memberships to entrants
- Speaking at our events to entrants
- Presenting on panels to entrants
- Leveraging our social media channels
- Cross promoting their own competitions
- Attending our functions to meet entrants
- Creating content on their involvement
Queensland Ag Shows is open to all of these activities and more to ensure partnerships provide an excellent return on investment for your organisation.
Learn how you can partner with us here.
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors
- RM Williams
- AgForce
Silver Sponsors
- Australian Country Choice
- Australian Beef Holdings
- Senator Susan McDonald
- RNA
- Richard Smith Photography
- Annexe Apartments
Bronze Sponsors
- Shepherdson & Boyd
- Drynan Family
- Showmens Guild of Australasia
- Robertson Family Farming
- James Lister MP
Supporters
- Hannas Toowoomba
- Virbac
- The Cairns Show
- Royal on Park
- Rohan Birt Plumbing
- Datadoo Anglo Nubians
- Ipswich Trophy Centre
- Sandstream Glass & Etching
- Queensland Country Life – Rural Press
- South Australia Country Shows
- LUP Ticketing
- Newrybar Rugs
- Sally Prosser
- Willow & Hide
- Bec Fing Designs
- Taroom Pharmacy
Alumni Supporters
- Lawrence Sehmish-Lahey
- Angela Gee
- Ashton Solli
- Jessica Kirk
- Nathan Trace
- Myles Newcombe
- Kerri Robertson
- Jessica Kerr
- Kylie Hopkins
- Christie McLennan
- Brianna Hockey
2023 Rural Ambassador State Finalists
L-R: Tylen Wallace (Burnett), Harrison Lehman (Central Highlands), Will Ringrose (Central & North-West QLD), Bridie Fenech (Central QLD), Mikaela Sima (Near North Coast), Rikki Payne (North QLD), Carly Smith (South Burnett), Brianna Hurley (Darling Downs), Lauren Young (South-West QLD), Matthew Petty (West Moreton & Bris. Valley)
2023 Queensland Rural Ambassador Winner:
Harrison Lehman
Harrison is based in Alpha and works within a family beef cattle operation holding a Certificate III in Agriculture. Originally from Inverell, New South Wales, Harrison moved to Alpha to accept a managers role at a large property in the area. The captain of Alpha’s rugby league team, Harrison also holds the position of Vice President of the Alpha Rodeo and Campdraft Committee. Together with his partner, he organised the Stockman’s Challenge at the Alpha Show.
Harrison on being asked what the title means to him said “I don’t know if it has really sunk in yet, it is just a huge privilege. I went up against the nine most amazing people I think I’ve ever met in my life and any one of us could have been standing here and Queensland definitely would have been proud. But to come down here and represent Rural Australia and Queensland, is a huge privilege to all of us we really do have a strong passion for what we do and where we come from. Any chance we get to share with metropolitan areas about what we do and where we come from, we will give our everything.”
2023 Queensland Rural Ambassador Runner Up:
Brianna Hurley
Brianna works for Barron Bros Livestock, where she represents the next generation of this family cattle trading business. She completed a Certificate III in Agriculture and is an accredited certifier for cattle tick inspection. On a community level, she is the Cooyar Show Secretary a position she has held since 2019, Showgirl Coordinator and canteen coordinator. She is also a member of the Cooyar Campdraft Society and in 2021 acquired her second cattle property in the Cooyar area.
As the 2023 Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards Runner Up, Brianna will travel to South Australia in early September 2024 to experience the Royal Adelaide Show by participating in a Rural Ambassador Exchange program, kindly hosted by South Australian Country Shows,
2023 Community Spirit Recipient:
Matthew Petty
Matthew owns and operates his business, Scenic Valley Contracting, specializing in general labouring, operation of civil and agricultural machinery, and domestic and rural maintenance services. Matthew is also very involved with his family farm and breeds his own stud cattle which he exhibits at local shows. The recipient of the Burnham Youth Award from the Brangus Society in 2017, in addition to exhibiting he has also judged cattle at a number of Ag Shows and assists with the prime cattle competition at the Ipswich Show.
