Queensland’s vibrant agricultural show community came together in Brisbane on Saturday 21 March 2026, with Queensland AgShows proudly hosting both the 2026 Queensland AgShows Awards and the annual Back to Basics Conference. Across the weekend, volunteers, leaders and partners from throughout the state connected to celebrate achievements, share ideas and strengthen the foundations of the show movement.
Honouring Excellence at the 2026 Queensland AgShows Awards
The 2026 Queensland AgShows Awards recognised the extraordinary dedication, leadership and innovation demonstrated by show societies and volunteers across Queensland.
The Emerging Leader Award was presented to Brianna Hockey from the Monto & District Show, acknowledging her outstanding first year as President and the significant reforms she led to strengthen long-term sustainability, governance and community engagement. Hannah Johnston from the Gympie District Show was named Runner Up for her transformative leadership in establishing the Farming in the Future Agricultural Education Hub, embedding STEM education and engaging more than 2,000 students.
Innovation was celebrated through the Best Innovation in a Local Event Awards, with winners including the Mudgeeraba Show’s Street Party activation (Small Show) and the Gympie District Show’s Agricultural Education Hub (Large Show). Highly commended initiatives from Dirranbandi and Emerald further showcased the creativity and ambition of regional show societies.
The Outstanding Individual Contribution Award was awarded to Colleen McLucas from the Malanda Show for her long-standing service and leadership, while Denis Cahill from the Beaudesert Show was named Runner Up in recognition of his more than 15 years of trusted governance and operational support.
Special recognition was also given through the Friendship and Fellowship Award to Graeme Watts (Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show), and Meritorious Awards to Vere Wyper (Mount Larcom & District Show Society) and Ken Landsberg (Yeppoon & District Show Society Inc.), honouring their lasting contributions to the show community.
Back to Basics Conference: Strengthening the Foundations
Running alongside the Awards, the 2026 Back to Basics Conference, held at The View Hotel, Brisbane, provided a practical and forward-focused program for show society volunteers and leaders.
The two-day conference focused on the core elements of running strong, compliant and sustainable shows, with sessions covering financial foundations, risk management, traffic planning, insurance, security and liquor compliance, sponsorship, crisis communications and volunteer engagement. Delegates also explored modern show challenges through sessions on technology, ticketing, social media, youth involvement and next generation leadership.
Highlights included workshops on attracting and retaining sponsors, embracing digital tools to improve the show experience, launching young judges programs, running successful equestrian events, and building pathways for future competitors and volunteers. The program also featured special interest group discussions, the 2026–2028 Strategic Plan launch, and a constitution review, ensuring members were informed and engaged in shaping the future direction of Queensland AgShows.
The conference concluded with the Awards Gala, bringing together learning, celebration and recognition in a powerful reminder that strong shows are built on connected people, shared knowledge and passionate volunteers.
Together, the 2026 Queensland AgShows Awards and Back to Basics Conference highlighted the strength, innovation and community spirit at the heart of Queensland’s show movement—and reinforced the importance of continuing to invest in people, partnerships and practical skills for the future.
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