Forbes local Sam Parish.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has named its 2026 RAS Rural Achiever Award finalists, celebrating eight young agricultural leaders who will now go on to participate in a life-changing develop­ment program at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Held each year at Australia’s largest ag­ricultural show, the RAS Rural Achiever Award consists of an eight-day personal and professional development program that takes young leaders behind the scenes of the iconic event, providing vari­ous hands-on opportunities and network­ing with leaders from across the Australian agriculture industry.

Finalists are judged on their conduct throughout the program, and a winner is selected to represent NSW at the National Rural Ambassador program.

Among the future leaders being recog­nised is Sam Parish who is a passionate agribusiness professional based in Forbes, NSW. As a Project Support Officer with Wise Repro, Sam brings a strong back­ground in cattle genetics, reproduction, and rural enterprise development.

He plays a key role in advancing inno­vative agricultural services across Aus­tralia and connecting producers with prac­tical solutions and emerging technologies.

Through podcasting and a wide range of media, Sam actively promotes the value and diversity of agriculture globally. Deeply involved in local initiatives such as Forbes Rugby, agricultural shows, and charity events, he strives to strengthen the link be­tween the general population and the peo­ple, places, and possibilities of agriculture.

RAS Rural Achiever Program Councillor in Charge, Yvette McKenzie, congratulated this year’s finalists and said the program is a fantastic way for finalists to expand their networks.

“Our RAS Rural Achiever Award final­ists represent eight young leaders who are passionate about agriculture, rural and regional NSW, and the agricultural show movement, and who wish to become am­bassadors and a voice for our industry.”

“I look forward to watching this year’s fi­nalists grow and thrive through this experi­ence,” shared McKenzie.

Calarie Hall Recreation Reserve Chairperson, Bill Holmes testing out the new zero-turn mower.

Are you ready to bring your community pro­ject to life? Applications are now open for Round 2 of the 2025/26 Forbes Shire Com­munity Funding Program.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support projects in sport and recreation, cul­ture and the arts, community services, and rural village enhancement.

The Calarie Hall Recreation Reserve Trust was one of the successful applicants in last year’s program, with the grant cover­ing half the cost of a new zero-turn mower.

“Our old mower was constantly in need of repairs, which was costly. The new Ferris mower is much faster on our large grounds, saving our volunteers significant time while providing a more even cut,” Calarie Hall Recreation Reserve Chairperson, Bill Hol­mes said.

Applications for this round close 31 Janu­ary 2026. Groups requiring assistance with their application can book an appointment with Council staff by calling 6850 2300 or emailing community@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.forbes.nsw.gov.au.