After flying the flag for the western region at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, Maree Pobje is reflecting on her time as Dubbo Show’s 2022 Young Woman.

Grateful for the opportunities the program has afforded her, the 23-year-old hopes to encourage other young local women to follow the same path.

“You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by entering the competition,” she told Dubbo Photo News.

“It's far less about 'winning' as it is the opportunity you get to improve your confidence, meet incredible people and see the community from a different perspective. Always say ‘yes’ to a challenge.

“The doors this competition opens up for your career and personal development is not something you want to sleep on.”

Winning the Dubbo competition twice, once as teenage showgirl in 2017 and again in 2022, earlier this year Ms Pobje was selected as one of three out of 20 young ladies to represent the Zone 6 in Sydney.

She described her Royal Easter Show experiences as being “truly electric”.

“To be joining the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) and AgShows NSW on their mission to bridge the gap between the city and country and seeing the displays of some of the country's finest primary producers was an absolute privilege,” she said.

“To have had the opportunity to make friendships for life and network with amazing women in the agriculture industry and the AgShows movement is something I will never forget.”

During her time in Sydney, the Young Woman cohort were presented with her State Finalist badge by Her Excellency the Governor of NSW Margaret Beasley, treated to a cruise of Sydney Harbour and attended several formal dinners.

They were also entrusted with some stewarding, ribbon presentations and competed in the Young Farmer Challenge.

Ms Pobje said she owes everything she has gained from this opportunity to the Dubbo Show Society.

“With Dubbo being one of the only shows that hold a teenage showgirl and Young Woman Competition, this is where my interest in the movement started, and without it, I may not have explored what the program had to offer in later years.

“The confidence in myself, the ability to speak about my passions and advocate for rural individuals, and the networking opportunities that this journey has offered me is unmatched.

“The Dubbo Show Society Committee have backed me with unwavering support from day one, not only by attending my zone final in Orange and also attending the announcement in Sydney for me, but with continuous messages in the lead up of support and kind words.”

Returning home to her fiancé and their farm in Bobadah, Ms Pobje now has a September wedding to prepare for.

Professional, she plans to work alongside the Young Woman coordinator to rally more girls into competition, as well as continuing her career in the grain industry and advocating for women in agriculture.