Page 11 - The Outdoor Showman OCT-DEC 2019

2019 VAS LTD RURAL AM- BASSADOR AWARD FINAL
The 2019 Victorian Agricultural Shows Ltd Rural Ambassador award final was held during the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show with 13 finalists representing their various Shows across Victoria.
This year’s group of finalists was a testament to the commitment that VAS has in promoting our next Generation to be involved with their agricultural Shows and in some cases, they go on to be leaders of their respective Shows.
The future of the Agricultural Shows relies on new ideas and fresh leadership at times with a blend of long-term committee members to give a good balance.
This year’s winner Grace Calder represented the Ballarat Show and Grace is an active Committee Member for the Victorian Sheep Show, Ballarat Spring Show Sheep section. She is also a successful sheep exhibitor with her Corriedale stud, “Kinatura”, and a highly regarded sheep judge.
As a Technical Specialist, Sheep Electronic Identification (EID) with Agriculture Victoria, Grace works to strengthen biosecurity, traceability and improve the flow of information through the sheep supply chain. Grace has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Business as well as a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Recently,
Grace completed the Foundations of Directorship with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Despite not coming from a rural background, Grace and her partner David have recently purchased their first farm to grow the stud and their farming business. Grace passionately
2019
encourages young people to get involved in agricultural Shows as a gateway
to experiencing agriculture and rural communities.
The Runner-Up was Jordan Hoban. Jordan was raised on a cattle property, and her love of cattle led her into the showring which inspired her to pursue a career
in agriculture. Having completed her Animal Science Degree (Hons) at Charles Stuart University in Wagga Wagga she worked for two years as a Meat Science Technical Officer at the NSW DPI in Cowra and is now an Animal Health Officer with Agriculture Victoria.
Jordan was a member of the 2013 Australian ICMJ Meat Judging team; winner of the 2013 National Merino Challenge; a 2015 LambEx Young
Gun and a 2016 RAS Rural Achiever finalist. Jordan clearly has the drive and passion for the involvement of Youth in Agriculture and Agricultural Shows.
When Jordan’s not fulfilling her role as
Jordan Hoban and Grace Calder
a Wodonga Show Steward running and assisting with eight different sections, Jordan spends her spare time at a local primary school training two heifers and teaching children how to show cattle. Jordon represented the Wodonga Show Society and the Murray Valley region in this years award.
Rod Bowles Executive Officer
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 9