MEDIA RELEASE: Finalists announced for Australia’s top young ag leadership award

Announcement posted by Writers Who 12 Jul 2025

National Rural Ambassador Award to be announced in September

Australia's brightest emerging agricultural leaders are gearing up for the National Rural Ambassador Award finals in September where the future of rural leadership will take centre stage at the Royal Adelaide Show - and they'll be doing it in style thanks to R.M. Williams, the official national uniform sponsor.

This prestigious competition, in its 24th year, celebrates young people passionate about championing their communities and regions.

Hosted by South Australian Country Shows, this year's finals cap off a journey that starts at local shows and works its way through regional and state levels to the national stage.

Meet the seven finalists in the National Rural Ambassador Award.

NORTHERN TERRITORY | Dakota Gough, 22, Katherine

Dakota Gough is an early childhood educator, runs cattle handling and judging schools, and is the founder of 'A is for Agriculture'.

The program introduces school students to the world of agriculture, educating young minds about where their food and fibre comes from and fostering a lifelong appreciation for farming and sustainability.

Dakota's goal is to make agriculture a mandatory subject throughout all schools in the NT and Australia.

Dakota has participated in various competitions, earning recognition in young judging and parading events across Queensland and Northern Territory, with her highest achievement being at a National Championship level.

"My active involvement in agricultural shows has been a cornerstone of my career. These experiences have deepened my appreciation for agricultural traditions and the importance of community engagement in promoting industry best practices. In the show arena I come out of my shell and people have told me it's amazing how I can describe an animal in such detail and with so much confidence and passion."

SOUTH AUSTRALIA | Kayla Starkey, 29, Mount Pleasant

Kayla is a sixth-generation sheep farmer, and high school agriculture and science teacher.

She co-manages her family's 140-year-old Polwarth and Merino stud operation near Mount Pleasant, where she's taken on a leading role in succession and now largely runs the enterprise independently.

A lifelong exhibitor, volunteer, and experienced judge, Kayla is embedded in South Australia's show community - from stewarding at the Royal Adelaide Show to mentoring youth in wool and sheep.

Her journey through the Young Rural Ambassador program began at 16, and she's remained an advocate for the next generation of show leaders since.

"I've had many ag show highlights but as an ag teacher, seeing the achievement and positive development of my students, and when they get involved in the schools Royal Adelaide Show team is special.

"On a more personal level, winning the opportunity to represent South Australia in the National Young Judges Merino Sheep Competition at the 2016 National Young Judges Competition in Launceston was something that I had been working towards since I started competing back in 2008 as a 12-year-old.

"Judging sheep at a Royal Show or major sheep show has always been a big bucket list item, as I grew up watching my dad, Lyall, in the judging ring. In 2022, I had the honour of judging Polwarth (sheep) at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show."

WESTERN AUSTRALIA | Thea Walker, 24, Manjimup

Growing up on a mixed horticulture and livestock property, Thea is passionate about innovation, sustainability, waste reduction and bridging the gap between consumers and producers.

The full-time horticultural farm business consultant works with fruit and vegetable growers around Australia and is brimming with goals and project ideas that will keep her busy in the agricultural sector for years to come.

As a child, Thea exhibited fruit, pet sheep - even a scarecrow built with her siblings and other local farm kids - and she's now a member of her local show committee and the WA Next Generation Group.

"I got involved with the Rural Ambassador Award because I want to see more farmer representation at agricultural shows, and for it to be an event that fosters connection between producers and consumers.

"I see shows as an opportunity for the agricultural industry to share all the incredible things they are doing with everyday people. Shows play a role in farmers being able to bring their stories directly to the consumer in a fun and engaging way. To me, any show that successfully achieves that is a favourite of mine."

TASMANIA | Dylan Bellchambers, 26, Ulverstone

Dylan Bellchambers grew up surrounded by vegetables and mixed livestock production.

He works as a field officer in vegetable production at Harvest Moon (onions are his favourite) and aspires to one day run his own farm.

Since 2018, Dylan has been actively involved with Agfest and now serves as its Chairman.

A proud member of Kingborough Huon Rural Youth, he's been encouraged by many mentors along the way.

"My favourite show would have to be the Campbell Town show in Tasmania. As the oldest continually running agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, it has a huge history but is relevant and has strong local roots. The Show atmosphere in general and grand parades are hard to go past but the way they connect with communities, particularly for agricultural communities, is really important and gives them an opportunity to come together where they otherwise may not."

VICTORIA | Caitlin Grieve, 25, Clarkes Hill

Farming runs deep in Caitlin's veins. She's a sixth-generation farmer with both sides of her family working the land since the 1800s.

Her family's Dorset Horn stud, registered in 1931, is the oldest surviving one in Australia, and showing sheep has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

Caitlin studied Agricultural Science at Lincoln University in New Zealand on a leadership scholarship, gaining hands-on experience on a sheep and beef station in Hawke's Bay.

She's milked cows, picked spuds, worked on a school farm taking students and sheep to shows, and now juggles online uni studies with working alongside her dad on the family farm.

This year, Caitlin solo road-tripped nearly 8,000km across Canada and the USA. She's also studied French for 10 years, dabbled in Latin, completed work experience with the RAAF, and is a big fan of F1 - recently adding Major League Baseball to her list of passions.

"At the ASA Conference at the Gold Coast this year I was the fourth longest attending show person in the room at 25, which was pretty incredible to realise. I'm so fortunate and privileged that shows have been my life for years now. Dad is on the Sheep and Executive Committee for the Ballarat Show, so he got me involved in the Ambassador competition and I'm very proud to be the Victorian Rural Ambassador.

"For the last three years I have stayed on site at the Melbourne Royal Show looking after the sheep in the Heritage Sheep Display. It's taught me how fortunate and privileged I am to not only be born, raised, and living on the farm, but to have such deep roots, as so many in the city have expressed a longing, curiosity and desire to experience agriculture and get out onto the land, but haven't any connections or opportunities to do so. I strive to use my role with the Heritage sheep display, and as Ambassador to encourage these people, young and old to find the courage and opportunities, as well as the hope that there is a place in the industry for them."

QUEENSLAND | Stephanie Laycock, 27, Toogoolawah

Stephanie is a fourth-generation beef cattle farmer who has spent the past decade helping run her family's diverse stud and commercial operation in Queensland.

With degrees in Agribusiness and Sustainable Agriculture, she combines her interest in cattle breeding and genetics with a commitment to supporting young people in agriculture.

From mustering and marketing to managing IVF recipients and her own 70-head Droughtmaster stud, Stephanie's a jack of all trades.

Beyond the paddock, she's heavily involved in the show circuit - exhibiting, judging, stewarding, and organising events across the state.

She plays key roles in numerous shows and camps, including the Toogoolawah Droughtmaster Futurity Show and the Droughtmaster Toowoomba Feature Show 2025.

Stephanie recently launched her own livestock stud sale photography business, Stud Stills by Steph.

"I started in the Rural Ambassador competition in 2023 and it felt like a clear next step for my own personal development, networking and leadership opportunities. Over these two years I have gained countless knowledge in regard to group work, volunteering, leadership, personality styles, networking and increased my reach to assist young people in the industry.

"In shows and agriculture involvement, my family always pushed me to pursue my passions and interests and they have supported me the entire way and allowed myself to forge my own paths forward in the show and ag industries. I am very proud to be able to represent Toogoolawah and Queensland at the National Championships."

NEW SOUTH WALES | Grace Collins, 22, Turramurra

Grace grew up on Sydney's North Shore but spent every school holiday soaking up life on her grandparents' property in the Hunter Valley.

She studied agriculture at school, jumped at every hands-on opportunity in rural NSW, and hasn't looked back.

After graduating, Grace moved to Armidale to study a Bachelor of Agriculture, where she became involved in showing Hereford cattle and mentoring young people through the show circuit.

Now back in Sydney, she's working towards becoming a high school ag teacher and is already supporting students in the classroom, boarding house, and show ring.

Whether she's stewarding at the Sydney Royal or mentoring future ag leaders, Grace is committed to inspiring the next generation and making agriculture more accessible.

"This competition allowed me to give back to local communities and step outside my comfort zone, an important step which I hope to instil in my future students. I believe it doesn't matter where you were born, it's about your attitude to your community. In this case, my reason to get out of bed each morning is to create the rural life I want to live, and give back to those who have helped me create it."

Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia - the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows that attract six million visitors each year and contribute nearly $1 billion to the national economy - highlighted the award as a valuable platform for young people.

"This award provides an opportunity for young leaders to share their perspectives, gain education and experience, and connect with like-minded individuals from across their state and the nation," Jac said.

The winner of the Rural Ambassador Award will be revealed at a gala dinner on Friday September 5 at the Arkaba Hotel.

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