Courtney Higgs from Naracoorte won this year’s State Rural Ambassador Award, announced at the Royal Adelaide Show on September 6.
Courtney, from the South East of SA and Border Show Societies Association, has been involved with the Naracoorte Show for over 20 years. She also works as a sales agronomist for E.E.Muir & Sons Penola, and has nearly finished her Bachelor of Agriculture degree studied externally through the University of New England.
She said she hopes to use her role as SA Rural Ambassador to share information between the different generations.
“Winning this award feels like a dream. It is an honour to have participated in this program with my fellow Rural Ambassadors and I feel very grateful,” Courtney said.
“Over the next 12 months I look forward to visiting as many shows as possible. I hope to encourage more young people in my region to participate in their local show and create a mentorship program to support them in their journey.”
Sponsored by the Government of South Australia, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), the award program is open to people aged between 20-30 who are committed to their local show and community. Run by SA Country Shows, the
award program highlights the importance of youth in the agricultural show movement.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said the Rural Ambassador Award program is a vital part of South Australia’s show culture, helping to
engage the next generation of rural and regional South Australians in their local show societies.
“It also helps participants develop closer links with the primary industries in South Australia. There was an outstanding field of applicants this year all achieving great things. It shows the pipeline of future leaders in our regions is strong,” Ms Scriven said.
The first runner-up of the Rural Ambassador Award was Henry Schutz from the Eudunda Show and the Northern Agricultural Shows Association, and the second runnerup was Michael Hollow, from the Yorke Peninsula Show Association. The winner and the two runners up will go on a study tour as their prize.
Other finalists included Jesse Chapman from the Southern Country Shows Association, Lisette Hutchins from the Northern Agricultural Shows Association, Luke Farrell from
the South East of SA and Border Show Societies Association, Lachlan Grossman from the Central Districts Show Association, and Hannah Wegner from the Murray Lands Show Association.