Introducing the 2024 Rural Ambassador State Finalists
/
Left to Right: Matilda Smith (Midlands Group & Beaufort Show), Nicole teitge (Central & Upper Goulbrn Group & Mansfield Show), Caitlin grieve (Midlands Group & Ballarat Show), Cassandra Douglas (Goulburn Valley Riverina Group & Euroa Show) & Tess Runting (Central & SOuth Gippsland Group & Pakenham Show)
Cassandra Douglas - Goulburn Valley Riverina Group & Euroa Show
Cass is passionate about her community and values the role country shows play in showcasing agricultural heritage while promoting future growth in regional areas. A fifth-generation local, she grew up on her family's farm in Gooram, which has been held and expanded since original selection. The farm runs an Angus beef breeding program alongside a small flock of sheep. After completing Year 12 at Euroa Secondary College, Cass secured a six-month role with her local council through the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria program. This led to a full-time position in local government, where she continues to upskill and contribute to the community through her work in communications and engagement. In addition to being a CFA volunteer, Cass is an active committee and executive member of the Euroa Agricultural Society Inc. She plays a key role in coordinating the Society’s print and digital media, website, online entries, and show schedule.
Caitlin Grieve - Midlands Group & Ballarat Show
Caitlin lives on the family farm in Dean, where she assists around the farm with shearing, crutching, marking, in between working full time and studying a Bachelor of Arts part time. She spent a year and a half in New Zealand, studying Agricultural Science at Lincoln University on a Leadership Scholarship and working in the North Island. For the past 5 years she has adjudicated public speaking competitions at a regional, state, and national level and passionately coached girls rowing. She enjoys exhibiting her family’s stud Dorset Horns, and stewarding and judging sheep at agricultural shows, as well as coordinating, organising and judging junior handling and judging. For the last 3 years she has supervised and cared for the Heritage Sheep Breeds display at the Melbourne Show, staying on site with the sheep and interacting with the public, educating them about the sheep industry.
Tess Runting - Central & South Gippsland Group & Pakenham Show
Tess has a strong passion for encouraging youth into agriculture, as her journey began when she joined her high school’s sheep show team in 2011. Since then, Tess has been heavily involved in agricultural shows around Victoria, showing her stud Corriedale sheep, competing in youth judging competitions and coordinating the sheep section at Pakenham and Red Hill Shows. More recently, Tess has taken on the organisation of sheep youth events at an additional 8 shows around Victoria to provide more opportunities for youth to be involved. Alongside running her own stud, Tess is the farm manager at Flinders Christian Community College in Tyabb, where she loves encouraging students from prep to year 12 to follow a career in agriculture. Tess has enjoyed competing in the ASA National Championships for Meat Sheep Judging and Merino Fleece Judging and having won both at National level is now proud to be mentoring her school students in these competitions. Tess is grateful for the positive impact ag shows have had on her life and believes that they are invaluable to our local communities and the wider agricultural industry.
Matilda Smith - Midlands Group & Beaufort Show
Matilda was born into the agricultural show community, watching her dad compete in many show shearing competitions. She has now involved herself with many aspects of her local Beaufort Show and helps run the shearing competition. Matilda is involved with the Second Gen group to help with family activities such as the dog jump, egg throw, yard dog trials and her family’s original competition they invented in 2016, the “shearers v axemen relay”. She says being part of an enthusiastic, passionate team is exciting and rewarding. Since a young age, Matilda has been entering her pets, crafts and photography at the show. With her passion for animals stemming from growing up on a small farm, Matilda has put this experience into her work as a vet nurse, and now working in the shearing sheds, before implementing plans to expand her knowledge in the agricultural industry in 2025.
Nicole Teitge - Central & Upper Goulburn Group & Mansfield Show
Nicci’s love for rural life began on her family’s small property in Pearcedale, Victoria, where she learned to ride horses and care for livestock. At 16, her passion deepened when she visited her sister on a remote cattle station in Queensland, where the strength of the rural community left a lasting impression. After high school, Nicci worked on farms across Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria, gaining valuable experience in agriculture. In 2023, she moved to Mansfield, where her dedication to rural life earned her the Rural Ambassador award for the Central and Upper Goulburn region. Despite being new to the local show society, Nicci understands the importance of community for mental and physical well-being. Recently, she organised a charity event that raised $30,000 for the local campdraft club and men’s mental health. In October, she’ll ride a posty bike through NSW to raise funds for Variety, the children’s charity, before helping with the Mansfield show in November. Nicci’s journey reflects her commitment to agriculture and her community.
