The society recently congratulated Brooke Martin-Smith and Sarah Nesbitt on their respective rewards.

Rural Achiever Ms Nesbitt grew up on the Monaro and is a fifth-generation farmer. She has a passion for agriculture, in particular the livestock and wool industries.

Ms Nesbitt said her heart is in the country and she returns to help out on the family Charolais stud at Cooma as often as possible, where she is involved in the selection of genetics for their breeding program.

While completing her HSC studies at St Paul’s College, Walla Walla, Ms Nesbitt was the senior leader of the Rural Youth team helping with breaking and preparing cattle for local agricultural shows around Albury, Henty, The Rock and Cootamundra, and then entering the college team for the Canberra Royal, Melbourne and Sydney Royal Shows. 

During evenings Ms Nesbitt completed her Certificate IV in Wool Classing with the Riverina TAFE, receiving an award for the highest average mark.

She has a keen eye for livestock and enjoys showing and judging beef cattle. She was reserve junior champion beef cattle judge and reserve junior champion Merino wool judge at Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2015. 

Ms Nesbitt deferred university entry to take up a position as junior draftsperson at Kotzur Silos, which designs and drafts grain silos and bulk handling systems. Wishing to progress further in this field, she took up a Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Wollongong. 

Meanwhile, 2019 Nimmitabel Showgirl Ms Martin-Smith is hoping the experience will giver her an opportunity to reconnect with the community in which she spent so much of her youth.

“Dad has lived in Nimmitabel his whole life and his parents, Sue and Pete Martin-Smith, are from Gourock.

“I went to primary school at St Patrick’s Parish School Cooma and used to spend my weekends and afternoons helping out on the farm. I went to boarding school in Year 7, but on school holidays Dad always made sure there was plenty of lamb marking or shearing to help out with.”

Ms Martin-Smith said she returned home after school for a year, working at Birdsnest and “experiencing first-hand the impact that strong women in rural centres have upon shaping opportunities for young people in the area”.

She moved to Sydney to study Design and International Studies at UTS and then spent a year living, studying and travelling in Italy, returning with a greater appreciation for home. “I look forward to becoming more involved with the Nimmitabel Show and seeing where this experience leads me.”