Australia’s next generation of rural leaders has a new face, with Elliott Apel of Gin Gin named the 2026 Agricultural Shows Australia National Rural Ambassador at the 150th Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).
Elliot grew up in the cattle industry and now works in the trading and risk management team at Queensland Sugar Limited, forward selling sugar and working with growers.
He was first encouraged onto the Rural Ambassador pathway by the Gin Gin Show community, going on to win the Queensland title before taking out the national crown.
“The message is pretty simple for the next generation: we are ready to take agriculture into the future,” Elliot said.
“We’re not future leaders — we are the leaders of today and we are going to grow and grow and grow and take our fantastic industry into the future.
“A big shout out to everybody back home in Gin Gin, everybody at the Gin Gin Show community — they are the ones that started me on this rural ambassador journey — it was the Gin Gin community that tapped me on the shoulder back in 2025, which set me on this path.
Sponsor R.M. Williams congratulated Elliott on the announcement.
“R.M Williams is proud to continue our support of the National Rural Ambassador Award for a second year,” Terry Goodear from R.M. Williams said.
“Our connection to regional Australia, agriculture and the communities that make this country so unique is at the heart of who we are.”
Outgoing 2025 National Rural Ambassador Grace Collins, from Turramurra, New South Wales, officially handed over the title after spending the past year representing Agricultural Shows Australia across the country.
