September 25, 2017
Justin Matthews is a young man going places in agriculture.
Justin has been a familiar face around South Burnett shows for some time, but especially this year in his role as the 2016 Marsh Rural Ambassador.
But now he has gone one step further.
On Sunday, Justin – who grew up on a cattle property near Goondiwindi before moving to the South Burnett – was named National Rural Ambassador at a dinner held at the Taylors Lakes Hotel, near Melbourne.
After spending Saturday at the Royal Melbourne Show, all State finalists from Australia and New Zealand were interviewed by four judges on Sunday afternoon.
They also were asked to deliver speeches on the topic: “What makes your Agricultural Show unique?”
Justin began his climb to national fame when he won the Rural Ambassador title at the Nanango Show in 2015.
But this wasn’t his first taste of rural shows … he had also volunteered as a steward and announcer in the cattle ring at Nanango.
Justin then went on to win the Sub-Chamber title, and was sent to the 2016 Brisbane Exhibition to represent the South Burnett.
He took out the Queensland title at the Ekka, the beginning of a busy year as he attended many Queensland shows in his State role.
When he opened the 2017 Proston Show in March, Justin told the crowd his passion for agriculture had taken him far, and that was a message he wanted to share.
Justin’s passion has now taken him to the National Rural Ambassador title.
Congratulations!
