The State final presentation for The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition will be held on Sunday March 29 from 1:30pm in the Amphitheatre at Sydney Showground.
A PASSION for the future of farmers and agriculture in their respective regions were among the reasons judges chose the two young women who will represent Zone 1 in the final of the 2015 The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition in Sydney next month.
The Zone 1 final was hosted by Maclean Show Society and held at Yamba.
It may be a case of second time lucky for Ellie Stephens, from Tregeagle, who represents the North Coast National Agricultural Society, Lismore.
Ellie, an accountant with an interest in agribusiness and succession planning, represented the zone at the Sydney Royal in 2012.
She tries to lead and create change in the show society movement, and works to sustain the farming family and agribusiness sector through sound business modelling.
Real estate business development manager, Emma Marks, Pottsville, will join Ellie in Sydney and represent Tweed River Agricultural Society.
Emma is completing a Masters of Sustainable Agriculture by correspondence at Charles Sturt University, with a vision to protect valuable agricultural land on the North Coast by working with developers to achieve sustainable outcomes.
She also seeks to promote agriculture as a viable career path for young people.
Pictured are Emma Marks, Pottsville, Tweed River Agricultural Society, and Ellie Stephens, Tregeagle, North Coast National Show Society, Lismore. Click on this image to see more photos in our online gallery.
The zone judges were Agricultural Societies Council of NSW vice president Tim Capp, Gresford; 2011 Sydney Royal Showgirl third-place getter Prue Neely, Singleton, and The Land’s news editor Robyn Ainsworth, Sydney.
The Zone 1 finalists also included: Taree Manning River Showgirl, Kimberley Harriden; Camden Haven Showgirl, Emma Ward; Grafton Showgirl, Joanne Newby; Wauchope Showgirl, Renee Jackson; Gloucester Showgirl, Ayla Ansell; Alstonville Showgirl, Alyson Elliot, 24; Maclean Showgirl, Melissa Staines; Mullimbimby Showgirl, Ann Barnham; Kyogle Showgirl, Lauren Donaldson; Coffs Harbour Showgirl, Erin Jackson; Bangalow Showgirl, Amrita Singh; Kempsey Showgirl, Courtney Waters, and Casino Showgirl, Alice Magner.