North Queensland’s entrant in the 2016 Marsh Rural Ambassador Awards Kaila Ridgway is a prime example of the city marrying the country.
The 26-year-old Department of Agriculture and Fisheries development horticulturist spent most of youth living in town – her formative years at Greta, near Singleton, NSW, and teenage years on the Gold Coast.
She started high school with no agriculture experience.
“That’s where it set me up to where I am now,” Ms Ridgway said. “If it wasn’t the agricultural side of shows I wouldn’t have found that hidden passion for agriculture.
“It started at the Gold Coast Show, from where it evolved. I knew I loved animals, loved agricultural, loved farming and wanted to be a farmer one day.”
High school allowed the Atherton resident to get more involved, which led her to running the animal nursery and participating in young judges and paraders competitions.
Ms Ridgway will represent the region in the rural ambassador competition which is aimed at young people who have a strong commitment to rural industries and an involvement and passion for the agricultural show movement.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of 2015 winner Anthony Ball from Malanda.
“I am passionate about rural industries and communities,” Ms Ridgway said.
“The rural ambassador plays an important role in the show movement and it opens up plenty of opportunities to develop more skills and educate myself about rural situations.”
Ms Ridgway fell in love with the Atherton Tablelands when she took up a job at Howe Farming.
“The region is literally a hidden paradise,” she said.
“Within 15km in any direction and you are in a completely different environment.”
Ms Ridgway said agricultural industries and communities were not given the acknowledgement they deserve.
She said wanted to bring the city to the bush.
“I want to show you don’t have to be fortunate to grow up in an agriculture family or background,” Ms Ridgway said.
“There are opportunities to get involved.
There are so many opportunities for long-term, satisfying careers.”
