Community spirit on show for all

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Spring is a wonderful time of the year in Tasmania, and with it comes the return of agricultural shows across the State. It’s a time of year that I love.

I had the best day at the Longford Show last weekend, catching up with people and businesses from across the Northern Midlands region and further afield.

I’ve always loved going to the show to see the wood chopping, watch the show jumping, seeing the handlers with the cattle, sheep and goats from the region being judged, and the produce and handiwork showcased in the pavilions.

As my beautiful dad Colin has always told me, it’s the people, the hardworking farming families, who make our rural communities what they are.

I see that fantastic spirit in many of the volunteers who pull together to showcase the best our communities have to offer year in, year out.

The agricultural sector is a big part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. It is the backbone of our economy and way of life.

The Tasmanian Government has a bold target to reach a farmgate value of $10 billion by 2050 and Tasmania has a remarkable opportunity to leverage our strengths in agriculture.

The strength in the farming sector is seen at a community level at our agricultural shows.  We are working with the Midland Agricultural Association to establish a shearing and wool handling innovation centre at the Campbell Town Showgrounds.

The Government is also future proofing the dairy industry’s participation at Agfest, the biggest agricultural event in the State, by supporting the construction of a permanent multi-use structure at the Queercus Park site, which will also be used by Royal Launceston Show.

I recently announced the extension of the Agricultural Show Development Grants program for a further three years.  This gives agricultural show associations the chance to secure up to $20,000 to secure the future of our agricultural shows so they can continue to bring together our regional communities.

I hope to see many of you at agricultural shows across the State over the next six weeks and to talk about the innovation happening in the ag sector.