Tess Bailey has been involved with local shows since she was 16, she’s been in Forbes a little more than two years and has taken on the role of chief steward of the beef cattle at the Forbes Show.

Now she’s excited about the opportunity to promote Forbes and extend her involvement with the agricultural show movement. 

The RAS Rural Achiever Award is a state-wide leadership program run by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW to recognise young people (aged 20 to 29) who are working hard to make a significant contribution to their local community and to rural Australia.

Tess submitted an application to the program, attended an interview in Sydney and was delighted to receive a phone call last Thursday to say she would be included. 

“I am really happy,” she said.

“I really love the country spirit.

“I love the community involvement so to take it to the next level is a really big thing for me.”

Tess grew up in the Blue Mountains and joined her school’s show team, as a student vet she began volunteering at Sydney Royal. 

Her grandfather was heavily involved in his local show committee, but it was more than family tradition that drew Tess in.

“I love country life,” she said. “I’m not from a farm so being involved in the show is a way to make those connections – and I like being able to do something for the town.” 

As one of the RAS’s Rural Achievers, she is keen to not only represent Forbes but to collect wisdom and ideas from others and “bring things from Sydney back to Forbes”.

Tess remembers the excitement of taking her mum and dad to check her entries in the local show as a child. 

Next year she’ll be off to Sydney Royal in 2018 as one of eight Rural Achievers. 

In the mean time, it’s business as usual in the job she loves at Lachlan Valley Veterinary Clinic. 

While Tess covers all types of vet care, she loves working with cattle and horses. 

“I love farm calls, building up a rapport and building relationships,” she said.

“It’s a really rewarding job, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”