Rural Ambassador Alumni Story: Dwayne Schubert

• Agronomist ⦁ Committee Member ⦁ Royal Councillor ⦁

As an RAS Rural Ambassador, Dwayne Schubert, who is now based near Hobart in Tasmania, says he believes firmly in the future of youth in agriculture.

“I was 28 when I was selected as an RAS Rural Ambassador, I had been involved in Beef Week and this was the

opportunity of a lifetime,” he said.

Mr Schubert was part one of the 2013 Rural Ambassador alumni. His counterparts, all females, have all become lifelong friends. Together they had the experience of being a part of the inner workings of the largest ticketed event and agricultural show in Australia.

“It was extraordinary to be selected to be a part of a young group of rural youth from all over NSW - who remain driven and passionately supportive of their local communities.”

“It was through the Rural Ambassador program that I was honoured to represent the RAS at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth’s biannual conference in Brisbane in 2014 - where I met Her Royal Highness Princess Anne,” Mr Schubert said.

As an agronomist specialising in livestock production, when he moved and worked around the state, Mr Schubert often deferred to the local show committee as a place to find and meet future friends.

“Whenever I have moved to a new town, I would go to the local show and am guaranteed you can meet like minded people,” Mr Schubert said.

So that is exactly what Mr Schubert did when he moved to Tasmania six years ago, reconnecting with an Agricultural Shows Australia councillor and landing a role as a councillor with the Royal Hobart Show.

“I am now one of the show councillors - which means we support the CEO who runs the show. For the last three years I have been interviewing and developing an audio interview collection of show exhibitors and enthusiasts to keep as part of our records.”

“I have also and would like to continue to serve on interview panels for Rural Ambassadors and the state selection panels for National Rural Ambassadors,” Mr Schubert said.