June 17, 2018
It was a big night for the Nanango Show Society on Saturday … not only did they host the annual dinner for South Burnett show societies, but their entrants were also selected to represent the region at this year’s Brisbane Ekka.
Nanango Miss Showgirl Stacey Sanders was sashed South Burnett Miss Showgirl, and Nanango Rural Ambassador Nathan Trace was named South Burnett Rural Ambassador.
To complete the trifecta, Nanango Show Society patron Gloria Fleming will represent the South Burnett in the highly contested Dark Rich Fruit Cake competition, a contest that she came within an inch of winning last year.
The annual event used to be known as the “Sub-Chamber Dinner”, but a recent re-branding by the Queensland Chamber Of Agricultural Shows (QCAS) to “Queensland Ag Shows” means the South Burnett Sub-Chamber is now known as “Ag Shows Of The South Burnett”.
Independent judges interviewed the candidates for South Burnett Miss Showgirl and Rural Ambassador – all of whom had been winners at their local show level.
The interviews, which took place during the day, were then followed by more impromptu questions on Saturday night, this time in front of an audience of more than 100 diners and with a microphone.
Richard O’Neill OAM, the South Burnett delegate to Queensland Ag Shows, said it was great to see so many young people taking part in the competitions.
He congratulated the show societies on the very high stand of their contestants.
“Everyone’s a winner, no matter who is selected tonight,” he said.
Ag Shows Of The South Burnett president Lyle Hasselbach, who is also Goomeri Show Society president, thanked the sponsors whose support had made the awards possible.
He singled out Ken Mills Toyota, which supports the Stud Beef Aggregate Points competition (which will be finalised at the Wondai Show) as well as the Young Judges and Young Paraders competitions.
Other sponsors included Goldmix Stockfeeds, Blackbutt Show Society and TopX Murgon.
Mr Hasselbach said support from councillors’ discretionary funds had assisted in supporting the Miss Showgirl and Rural Ambassador awards when a “mix-up” occurred over South Burnett Regional Council sponsorship.
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Not all the Ekka representatives were chosen on Saturday.
Also heading down to Brisbane will be winners of various ag competitions selected at the Blackbutt, Nanango and Kingaroy Shows:
- Dairy Cattle Young Judge – Krystal Wardrop
- Dairy Cattle Parader – Emily Haak
- Stud Beef Young Judge – Georgia Graham
- Stud Beef Parader – Mikaela Ross
- Prime Beef Young Judge – Kasey Beddows
The Ute competition winners were selected at the Blackbutt Show:
- Street – Michael Fisher
- B&S – Brad Mackellar
- Chicks – Megan Underhill
- 4 x 4 – Connor England
- Work – Darryl Chapman
- Feral – Doug Paton
- Classic – Allan Wilson
