“Judges were really please with the number of entries and quality of the submissions,” Committee chair Michael Jelbart said. 

“Some categories saw as many as 12 entries which does make judging a challenge. 

“Finalists will be announced in the near future.”

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on February 8, 2019. 

The Committee is pleased to welcome young entrepreneurs Sam Johnson and Jim Honner from Thank A Farmer For Your Next Meal – a brand that aims to further promote Australian agriculture and Australian primary producers through pictures to close the gap between producer and consumer and city and bush.

Sam grew up in Forbes and Thank a Farmer was launched in 2015.

Tickets for the Gala event go on Sale on December 10 and are available online.

“The Mid Summer Night’s Dream theme will be carried throughout the event and it is promising to be spectacular,” Mr Jelbart said.