Kempsey Show Society, Inc.

In June 2021 the RAS announced a name change to The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition to the new name for the 2022 state program will be The Sydney Royal Young Woman of the Year.

The change aims to better reflect the spirit of the program in honouring young rural women and to ensure the relevance of the competition well into the future.

For the 2022 Kempsey Show Young Woman of the Year Competition we have a fantastic array of young women entered across three categories:

• Seniors – 5
• Teens – 12
• Juniors – 10

These Young Women will be the face of our community in the years the come – we cannot wait to see what all our entrants will achieve.

2022 Kempsey Show Senior Young Woman of the Year Entrants

Entrant 1:

Name: Grace Elsie Lehn

Age: 17

Occupation: Macleay Valley Rural Supplier store worker.                

Interest & Hobbies: I have a strong interest in Agriculture and my hobbies include horse riding and showing cattle for St Paul’s College Ag team.

Ambitions & Goals: A strong desire that I have is to achieve is to study veterinary science and become a veterinarian nurse.

Reason for Entering: I would like to be part of the Kempsey Young Woman competition as I have a strong interest in agriculture and a desire to work in the Australian agriculture industry. I believe in the valve of these types of competitions as they promote agriculture in a positive light and give young people the opportunity to represent their local community.

Entrant 2:

Name: Savannah May Bennett

Age: 17

Occupation: Crew at McDonalds.

Interest & Hobbies: Woodwork, cattle, textiles, cooking, metal work, farming, first aid and Sherwood Hall committee member.

Ambitions & Goals: My goal for the future is to become a paramedic.

Reason for Entering: I am entering to prove to myself that anything you put your mind to is possible.

Entrant 3:

Name: Charlotte Ryder

Age: 19

Occupation: Director of First Impressions – LJ Hooker Kempsey.

Interest & Hobbies: 4WD, adventuring, camping, animal welfare and being in nature just in general.

Ambitions & Goals: Supporting local businesses, being an ambassador for young women from small towns.

Reason for Entering: I have always wanted to enter but have never had the courage. I believe 2022 can a year for new beginnings and body positivity.

Entrant 4:

Name: Katie Barnett

Age: 21

Occupation: Small business owner/share grazier (Ruby Vale Pastoral), Assistant Manager at “Taylor’s Run”, student at the University of New England studying a double degree, Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business majoring in Agribusiness.

Interest & Hobbies: I am passionate about education, community involvement and promoting youth and women in agriculture. I am also passionate about agriculture, particularly in the areas of sheep and wool production, sustainability, regenerative practices, low stress stock handling and stock dog work.

Ambitions & Goals: To provide leadership and be a role model to others. My aim in life is to make a difference and drive positive change for rural and regional Australia. My other goals and ambitions include growing my business including buying my own block and increasing the quality and quantity of my own flock and the flocks I manage through data collection and evaluation as well as land stewardship. I am also aiming to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship and Zanda McDonald Award.

Reason for Entering: To represent and be a proud, confident ambassador of the Kempsey region and rural NSW. To gain great insight, networks, and personal development. To provide leadership/be a role model to others. To show the importance of rural Australia as well as the diversity and resilience of our communities. To close the gap between city and county and highlight important issues we face in rural/regional Australia e.g., job vacancies or lack thereof.

Entrant 5:

Name: Abbigayle Grace Bennett

Age: 19

Occupation: Home manager and student.

Interest & Hobbies: Committee member Sherwood Hall, reading, dancing, helping my grandfather on his farm.

Ambitions & Goals: I want to finish school, get my HSC and continue to university to study law, otherwise I hope to take over my grandfather’s farm and carry it on for years to come.

Reason for Entering: I am entering to make new friends, meet new people and to get to know and help my town to the best of my ability. It has been my dream since I was 10 years old but have never had the courage but now, at 19, I am confident to give it a try.

The 2022 Kempsey Show Young Woman of the Year presentation will be held during the opening of the Kempsey Show on 26 April 2022 at 6pm.

Keep up to date with us via social media @kempseyshow both on Facebook and Instagram additional please check out Kempsey Show website for all information http://www.kempseyshow.com.au

Related story: Kempsey Show, 26-27 April 2022