Showgirl and Rural Achiever competitions postponed until 2021

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) youth affairs committee has made the "difficult decision" to postpone The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl and Rural Achiever competitions until 2021 following the cancellation of this year's Sydney Royal Show.

"It was a difficult decision but this was the best and fairest and equitable way for this year's finalists," RAS youth affairs committee chair Stuart Davies told The Land.

"All we could do was play what was in front of us and the information that was available to us."

But Mr Davies said the RAS was an agile organisation and if the situation was to change sooner than later then they would be in a position to review the decision.

"The thing none of us know is what's going to happen down the track," he said.

In the event existing finalists fall outside the age restrictions, Mr Davies said they would make allowances so they would not be affected.

He said the RAS along with Agricultural Societies Council of NSW (ASC) would keep local show entrants and winners across NSW informed.

Mr Davies said he appreciated the finalist's patience and understanding in the past week.

"Our Showgirl and Rural Achiever finalists are fantastic ambassadors and future leaders of rural and regional NSW and deserve the recognition and experience of competing in these programs, I look forward to seeing each and every one of our finalists thrive in the 2021 competitions," he said.

ASC president Tim Capp said it was the "right thing" to postpone the competitions to 2021.

"The RAS had no choice in the end...we are in an unknown world at the moment," Mr Capp said.

Mr Capp said they were currently in discussion as to what happens to finalists from the country shows that had selected Showgirl winners this year prior to the coronavirus gathering restrictions that were expected to compete in the 2021 zone finals.

"We are working out what happens to those finalists and whether they too will have to be carried over for their respective shows for the following year," Mr Capp said.

"They are great competitions that show societies love and contestants get so much out of in personal development it would be a real shame if we had to cancel the competition."

Tentative dates for the 2021 Showgirl program are March 23 to 29, 2021 while the Rural Achiever is March 23 to 31, 2021.

All finalists have been contacted with the above information and anyone with further questions can contact the RAS directly.