A passionate agronomist from the south-east town, Courtney Higgs is a member of the South East of SA and Border Show Societies Association.

The Rural Ambassador Award is presented to a young person aged between 20-30 years of age, which highlights the importance of youth in rural South Australia.

Established in 1998, the award was developed to help ensure succession planning with an ageing volunteer base, said Peter Angus, the state ambassador award coordinator.

“It was a way of involving and identifying young people who were already involved in the shows,” Angus said.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Claire Scriven, said the award program is a vital part of South Australia’s show culture.

“It helps to engage the next generation of rural and regional South Australians in their local show societies,” she said.

The award enables the recipient, and two runners-up, to experience a number of agricultural shows and learn the behind-the-scenes workings of them.

Higgs said that she looks forward to being able to visit as many shows as possible over the next 12 months.

“I hope to encourage more young people in my region to participate in their local show and create a mentorship program to support them in their journey,” she said.

Higgs, and the runners-up, Henry Schutz and Michael Hollow, will also be going on a study tour in July-August 2023, sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

Angus said he hopes that the participants make new industry contacts and are able to experience businesses relevant to their careers and interests.

“Whatever their backgrounds are we make sure they are each able to visit their own career or passion,” Angus said.

“The program is targeted towards the backgrounds of those finalists.”

In previous years, the study tour has visited New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and more recently due to COVID-19 restrictions, has stayed within Australian borders.

Angus expects the 2022 winners will travel nationally, but the itinerary is yet to be determined, he said.

The three finalists look forward to visiting as many country shows as possible over the next 12 months, and both imparting their knowledge and learning more.

“I hope to visit as many country shows as possible and make improvements to the shows I am involved in with the knowledge I have gained,” Schutz said.

For Hollow, he plans to “learn what I can bring to my show and build strong networks throughout South Australia”.

Higgs’ win comes following the 2022 Young Rural Ambassador Award which was awarded to Cody Jones from Leighton in the state’s Mid North.