2026 Rural Ambassador State Final Information Day

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We had our 7 State Final Ambassadors attend the information day in Bendigo on Sunday and it was a great success! It was great the ambassadors got to hear the insights from Harry Lloyd last years 2025 State Final Winner and also to hear about his recent Nationals experience. The ambassadors also got some great feedback on their impromptu speeches they presented on the day!

It was a great opportunity for the ambassadors to meet each other and hear about each others background. They are all looking forward to the State Final that will be held at the Melbourne Royal Show on the 25th & 26th September with the Presentation Luncehon to be held on 27th September at the Riverside Golf & Sports Centre.

Left to Right in the photo: Alanna Hansford (South Western Group), James Troup (Midlands Group), McKayala Peterson (North Eastern Group), Lachlan Andrew (Goulburn Valley Riverina Group), Kate McIntosh (Central & Upper Goulburn Group), Bridget Leahy (Central & South Gipppsland Group) & Abbey Walsh (Gippsland Group).

2026 ASA National Finals Success - Team Victoria

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Recently at the 2026 Ekka Brisbane Show the 2026 Agricultural Shows Australia National Finals were held. The National Finals is an opportunity for each state in Australia to bring their team of competitors together to compete in the individual competitions that aim to test the skill and knowledge of each of the competitors. The competitions support the next generation of paraders and judges to showcase their skills on a National Level.

Team Victoria were:
Rural Ambassador - Harry Lloyd
Beef Cattle Parading - Jayde Grylls
Merino Sheep Judging - Ava Harris
Dairy Cattle Judging - Mikaela Daniel
Beef Cattle Judging - Brittany Abbott
Poultry Judging - Liam Collins
Grain Judging - Hollianne Hallam
Merino Fleece Judging - Taylor Kain
Dairy Cattle Parading - Abbie Hanks
Meat Sheep Judging - Jessica Gregory

Each National Final is allocated 4 points for 1st Place, 3 points for 2nd Place, 2 points for 3rd Place & 1 point for every other participant in the National Final. The Rural Ambassador is allocated 4 points for the Winner & 2 points for the Runner Up along with 1 point for every other participant in the National Final. The highest state tallied points is then declared the Keast Shield Winner!

We are so proud of our team VICTORIA on being declared the 2026 Keast Shield Winner!

The success of all our competitiors to represent Victoria so well and show their skills and knowledge off, you are all to be admired for the way you have represented Victoria! You should be all so proud of yourselves that you are apart of the Keast Shield Winning State!

Congratulations to all the other states on what was such a high calibre of competitors and it just shows that the future is in very good hands!

This is only the third time that Victoria has won the shield so previosuly won in 2021, 2025 & now 2026! GO VICTORIA!!

Victoria is so proud of each of our team members for representing the State so well and their contribution to the Victorian Agricultural Show Movement. Thank you to all the families and supporters of the competitors for supporting them along this journey along with sponsors of each competition that make it possible for the competitors to compete!

Below is each of our competitiors and their individual successes

Homecraft State Competitions

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Well its time to feature our VAS Ltd Homecraft Competitions for the upcoming show season and it's time to start to think and prepare your entries for the 2026 Spring / 2027 Autumn Show Season!

The VAS Ltd State Competitions are open to all individuals of all abilities and experience levels to enter, so check out your local show schedule and enter a VAS Competition!

Below features our 12 Homecraft Competitions that you can enter! All regulations are available for viewing on the website with links provided below.

 

Click to read the full Sewing Competition Regulations

Sewing Regulations
 

Click to read the full Crochet Competition Regulations

Crochet Regulations
 

Click to read the full Knitting Competition Regulations

Knitting Regulations
 

Click to read the full Patchwork Competition Regulations

Patchwork Regulations
 

Click to read the full Embroidery Competition Regulations

Embroidery Regulations
 

Click to read the full Cross Stitch Competition Regulations

Cross Stitch Regulations
 

Click to read the full Photography Competition Regulations

Photography Regulations
 

Click to read the full Junior Photography Competition Regulations

Junior Photography Regulations
 

Click to read the full Rich Fruit Cake Competition Regulations

Rich Fruit Cake Regulations
 

Click to read the full Junior Boiled Fruit Cake Competition Regulations

Junior Boiled Fruit Cake Regulations
 

Click to read the full Carrot Cake Competition Regulations

Carrot Cake Regulations
 

Click to read the full Junior Carrot & Sultana Muffins Competition Regulations

Junior Carrot & Sultana Muffins Regulations

Homecraft Tips & Tricks

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New addition to the VAS Ltd Website is a collection of videos with Tips & Tricks for Homecraft Competitions!

Click here to view

Hopefully these will be great resources for refining your skills and you will gain invaluble tips of what judges might be looking for!

2026 VAS Ltd Merino Fleece, Merino Sheep & Meat Sheep Judging State Finals

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At the Australian Sheep & Wool Show held on the weekend VAS Ltd conducted three State Finals, which were Merino Fleece, Merino Sheep & Meat Sheep Judging. The winner of each of the State Finals will represent Victoria at the ASA National Finals in Western Australia 2027! We wish them the best of luck next year!

A huge thank you to Riverina Wool for sponsoring the Merino Fleece & Merino Sheep State Finals and thank you to the Victorian Stud Merino Sheep Breeders for conducting the Merino Sheep Judging State Final.

Thank you to our over judges Mark Bazeley (Merino Fleece) & Tim Ferguson (Meat Sheep) for taking the time to judge the State Finals.

Check out the results below

2026 Meat Sheep Judging State Final Results

Winner: Jessica Gregory

2nd Place: Lucinda Smith

3rd Place: Taylor Kain

Congratulations to Jessica and VAS Ltd wishes you all the best at National Finals, which will be held in Western Australia 2027!

2026 Merino Fleece Judging State Final Results

Winner: Lucinda Smith

2nd Place: Charli Torcasio

3rd Place: Ella Jansons

Congratulations to Lucinda and VAS Ltd wishes you all the best at National Finals, which will be held in Western Australia 2027!

2026 Merino Sheep Judging State Final Results

Winner: Maxwell Pohl-Skillecorn

2nd Place: Lexie Heinrich

3rd Place: Charlotte Brown

Congratulations to Maxwell and VAS Ltd wishes you all the best at National Finals, which will be held in Western Australia 2027!

2026/27 Show Dates Booklet Available to Purchase

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Kicking off early into the 2026/2027 Show Season you can now download the Show Dates Flyer via clicking below:

Click Here for Show Dates Flyer

Alternatively you can purchase the Show Dates Booklet via clicking below:

Click to order

Only $10.00 including the Booklet and Show Date Flyers so it great resource to plan your visits this coming season to Victorian Agricultural Shows.

2026/27 VAS Ltd Board of Directors

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At the recent VAS Ltd Convention the VAS Ltd Annual General Meeting was held and we would like to introduce the 2026/27 Board of Directors as pictured below. Newly appointed directors to the board are Jason Ronald OAM, Gail Joordens & Jayson Munro. We would like to congratulate them on their nomination and look forward to their input and commitment to the Board and Victorian Agricultural Shows Movement.

We also said farewell to three directors and we thank Brian Keirl, Scott Somerville & Lorraine Morris for their time and commitment to the Board and the Victorian Agricultural Shows Movement. I’m sure we will see their faces around still as they are all delegates for their own Show Societies and still look forward to their input on thsoe sub-committees.

The 2026/27 Chairperson is Vivian Beaumont OAM, Deputy Chair is Debbie Geddes & Treasurer is John Nicolson.

Pictured Left to Right: Jayson Munro, Vivian Beaumont OAM, Cameron Cutler, Judith Bysouth, Debbie Geddes, Ross Meredith, John Nicolson, Jason Ronald OAM & Gail Joordens.

2026 VAS Ltd Show Awards Results

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It is hard to believe it has been over a week already since the 2026 VAS Ltd Show Awards were announced at the VAS Ltd Convention! We are excitied to feature all the Winners, Runner Ups & Finalists for each of the awards and congratulate them on their successes!

It was amazing to have every finalist in attendance at the Convention Dinner to recognise and acknowledge the contributions to the Victorian Agricultural Shows Movement.

VAS Ltd would like to acknowledge Gallagher Australia for their naming rights sponsorship of the Show Awards and Bronia Henty-Smith for presenting the awards on the night. Thank you for your support towards the Victorian Agricultural Shows Movement!

Full Results & Pictures Click Here

Best Innovation Small Section

Winner: Numurkah Show - Innovation: Town Scavenger Hunt

Runner Up: Cohuna Show - Innovation: Fair Lemonade

Best Innovation Medium Section

Winner: Boort Show - Innovation: Ute Show

Runner Up: Donald Show - Innovation: Shining a Light on the Health & Wellbeing of our Community

Finalist: Dandenong Show - Innovation: Kids Korner

Finalist: Nathalia Show - Innovation: Dinosaur Theme

Best Innovation Large Section

Winner: Foster Show - Innovation: Back to Back Wool Challenge

Runner Up: Whittlesea Show - Innovation: On-the-go Marketing

Finalist: Berwick Show - Innovation: Discovery Trail

Finalist: Wangaratta Show - Innovation: Dinosaur Discovery

Best Marketing Campaign Small Section

Winner: Goroke Show

Best Marketing Campaign Medium Section

Winner: Donald Show

Best Marketing Campaign Large Section

Winner: Whittlesea Show

Runner Up: Shepparton Show

Finalist: Berwick Show

Outstanding Individual Contribution 39 Years & Under Section

Winner: Corryong Show: Emma Klippel

Runner Up: Dandenong Show: Kate Reedy

Finalist: Berwick Show: Bridget Leahy

Finalist: Stawell Show: Emma Bourke

Finalist: Yarrawonga Show: Lisa Beattie

Outstanding Individual Contribution 40 - 59 Years Section

Winner: Donald Show: Nicole Nunn

Runner Up: Wangaratta Show: Charmane Bennett

Finalist: Clunes Show: Robert Anderson dec.

Finalist: Whittlesea Show: Emma Horman

Outstanding Individual Contribution 60 Years & Over Section

Winner: Boort Show: Marjory Potter

Runner Up: Yea Show: Elaine White

Finalist: Rochester Show: Faye Moon

Finalist: Sunbury Show: Edward Troutbeck

Finalist: Whittlesea Show: Robert Draper dec.

People’s Choice Award

Winner: Donald Show

Runner Up: Whittlesea Show

Finalist: Foster Show

Finalist: Kyneton Show

Finalist: Boort Show

Finalist: Horsham Show

Finalist: Sunbury Show

Finalist: Goroke Show

Finalist: Nathalia Show

Finalist: Bendigo Show

2026 VAS Ltd Convention Competition Results

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Convention Competition 1 - Pickles

1st Place - Heather Tyrell - Yarrawonga Show

2nd Place - Joyce Sluggett - Natimuk Show

3rd Place - Kim Cash - Kyneton Show

Commended - Pat Jones - Pakenham Show

Commended - Joyce Sluggett - Natimuk Show

Commended - Laurel Truscott - Yarram Show

It was a great turnout of entries with 30 jars of pickles entered! So congratulations to all exhibitors.

 

Convention Competition 2 - Scarf

1st Place - Elizabeth Hill - Bunyip Show

2nd Place - Faye Hender - Swan Hill Show

3rd Place - Therese Ryan - Heathcote Show

Commended - Elizabeth Hill - Bunyip Show

Commended - Sheryle Jennings - Natimuk Show

Commended - Jess MacAuley - Yarram Show

It was a great turnout of entries with 31 Scarves entered! So congratulations to all exhibitors.