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.
Myles Newcombe, Gympie QLD
From growing up on breeding and grazing blocks, showing stud and prime cattle in his childhood, working in central and northern Queensland, to now operating a bovine embryo recipient business with his fiancè and parents, Myles’ ties to rural Australia run deep.
Just to add to his extensive skill set, Myles, 28, is also a qualified plumber and works in the trade three days a week. The rest of his time is spent working towards expanding the business’s embryo recipient herd.
Myles was motivated to enter the Rural Ambassador program to bring awareness to the ‘average Australian who owns a small parcel of land’.
“There is an ability for them to have a sustainable input into the agricultural industry and be good custodians of the land, along with helping present and future farmers with suitable and sustainable agriculture practices,” he says.
Myles says he’s been fortunate to have had strong family support in achieving his goals over the years, with both his parents giving him the opportunity in his youth to attend shows and competitions with their cattle. He credits his father Rob as his biggest helping hand in the agricultural industry, teaching him about property management, grazing, breeding and growing cattle.
Along with the Rural Ambassador award, Myles says taking out the Grand Champion Charbray Bull and Cow in the same year at The Ekka is right up there in proud, joyous moments for his family. Oh, and winning the Australian Champion Stocksaddle Buckjump competition in 2013 makes that list too.