For 20 years the National Rural Ambassador program has aimed to provide young people with an opportunity to promote rural Australia; and to discover and recognise the next generation of young rural leaders.
The 2021 national finals will be held at the 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show after this year’s Royal Queensland Show, The Ekka, was cancelled due to COVID uncertainty.
The Agricultural Shows Australia Rural Ambassador National Finals competition is the culmination of a series of competitions which take place each year throughout Australia. Local shows applicants proceed through to regional level, then state-based competitions and ultimately to the national finals.
As we eagerly await Sydney Royal 2022, we caught up with each of the National Rural Ambassador finalists to celebrate their enduring commitment to their communities and learn a little more about them.
Madeleine Muirhead, Campbell Town TAS
A passionate equestrian, Madeleine Muirhead can lay claim to being part of the longest running agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere.
The 26-year-old works alongside her husband on a mixed operation farm halfway between Hobart and Launceston. She’s part of the executive committee of the Midlands Agricultural Association, organising and running the equestrian events at the Campbell Town Show, founded in 1838.
Madeleine grew up in rural settings across Australia and studied Equine Business Management at Marcus Oldham College and Agribusiness at the University of Tasmania. She works for Nurtien Ag Solutions as Corporate Affairs Coordinator and runs her own business coaching young riders.
She’s passionate about the Campbell Town Show and entered the Rural Ambassador program to create awareness of the show society and its important history in the district.
While it’s hard to top the Friday night cocktail party at the annual show for its good food, good wine and many laughs with friends, Madeleine says the regular dachshund races, and even a wedding, make the Campbell Town Show a unique and special event.