Community & Business
15 December, 2021
Show member is Bundaberg bound thanks to local sponsor
Oakey Show Society member, stud beef steward and former Oakey Showgirl, Louise Byers, will be travelling to Bundaberg next month to be the local representative at the Queensland Ag Shows Next Generation 2022 Queensland Ag Shows Conference thanks to sponsorship from Member for Condamine Pat Weir.
The fourth generation Oakey Show Society member said she is thankful for the opportunity Mr Weir’s sponsorship has given her.
She said she is keen to learn all she can from the conference.
“I have been involved in the Oakey Show my whole life,” Ms Byers said.
“By going to this conference I hope to bring new ideas back to our show that we might use next year.”
Ms Byers said she will be “a fly on the wall” at the event and is hoping to learn everything she can from the other delegates and Next Generation Committee.
As sponsor of Ms Byers’ trip to Bundaberg, Mr Weir said he sees value in sending local representatives to events, such as, the Next Generation Conference.
He said young people like Ms Byers are the future of the show movement and it is key that all agricultural societies bring young members forward and let them have input into their local agriculture events.
“The future of show societies is dependent on the next generation to keep going,” Mr Weir said.
“It’s important that they have an opportunity to get together and discuss new ideas.
“Agriculture shows do have a traditional base, but they need to add to elements and progress to suit their changing communities.”
Mr Weir said the Oakey Show Society hosting the “Smokin the Downs” competition low and slow meat cooking event is one example of adding a new feature to the event that drew new audiences and increased the success of the Show.
The conference will be held from January 14 to 16 at Bundaberg.
