Agfest tickets are go!

Smiley, smart and rarely sitting still, Rural Youth state president Amber Bramich exemplifies the qualities required to lead the young workforce behind the state’s massive agricultural showcase - Agfest.

This week she’s even bubblier than usual, with Agfest tickets now on the sale as the countdown to the event, held in The Paddock at Quercus Park, Carrick, becomes real.

May 7, 8 and 9 are the dates this year for what is shaping up to be another astounding field day with the tried and tested favourites combined with new and innovative additions.

“We’ve got a new event, the Tradie Challenge, and we’ll be launching another Young Farmer competition with its amazing prize pool,” Miss Bramich said.

“The huge job of installing a new fire system across the site is finally complete and there’s some changes coming to the entry points for Agfest that will help get people in and out even quicker.”

The framing is also up on the new Dairy Tas shed which is being built in the north-east corner towards the craft pavilions.

The Rural Youth members have been working hard since the last Agfest to make sure the visitor experience is the best it can possibly beand Ms Bramich said she is proud to be involved, having joined Rural Youth in 2019 on the recommendation of a friend who said “it’s pretty cool”.

She went to one of the Hagley Rural Youth group’s Rural Rumble concerts and had a ball, then officially joined her friend’s group at Meander before eventually moving to a closer club to where she lived at Devonport.

“I attended my first State Ball at Latrobe and that was the gateway into what Rural Youth was all about - I met so many people,” she said.

“I was inspired to become more involved and join the Agfest Committee, and then the board, which I’ve been on for five years.”

Miss Bramich will finish up at the AGM this year having served the maximum two full terms as president.

She has taken every opportunity that’s been provided by the organisation, from winning the Graeme Tole Award which took her to New Zealand to taking part in the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership program.

“Rural Youth his about how much you put in, you get back tenfold,” she said.

“I’ve learned so much. I’ve had all of these opportunities through Rural Youth, including being on the board and learning governance and business skills.

“The other side of it is the connection to people and having fun.”

At the older end of being a Rural Youth Member Miss Bramich said she gets enormous satisfaction in seeing younger members coming through - building their confidence and skills in a relatively short time.

She described Agfest as a beating heart.

“The amount of hours and effort, time and investment of heart and soul in getting that event off the ground each year, and then the gates opening with a rush of excitement,” she said.

“At the end of Agfest we all line up and do crazy dances as the exhibitors leave Main Street on the last day to celebrate the fact that we’ve been tested and pushed outside our comfort zone but come out the other end and achieved this massive event.”

Tickets are available on the Agfest website and entry prices are unchanged from last year.

General admission $32.65, Concession $25.50, Children 5-17 years $13.30 (U5 free), family (2 adults, 3 children) $79.60.