2023 Young Ambassador Quest Entrants

Sophie McCulloch

Hometown: Tamworth, NSW

Sophie is currently working in aged care and outside of work she has an interest in horses, rugby and photography.  Sophie volunteers her time as a judge for Ranch Sorting National Championships Australia and also helps out with the North West Team Penning club.  In 2023 Sophie’s goals include, competing at the Ranch Sorting World Finals in Texas, taking on new challenges and making new friends.  Sophie entered the Quest to fulfill some of her 2023 goals and to step outside her comfort zone.  But most importantly to Sophie, in being part of the Quest she wishes to help raise public awareness of certain diseases and to support the Classic Ladies Foundation in their 2023 fundraising efforts for charities that are close to Sophie and her families hearts.

Sarah Caslick

ABCRA Representative

Hometown: Willow Tree, NSW

Sarah has her Real Estate and Stock and Station Agent’s Licence and currently she has swapped the office for the outdoors, working as a Farm and Livestock hand in a Mixed Farming Operation just North of Willow Tree.  Sarah enjoys campdrafting and participating in Stock Horse Shows.  She has set herself the challenge of training her own horse for the NCHA Futurity in 2023.  Sarah is currently involved in the Willow Tree Rural Fire Service and assists with the organisation of sponsorship for the Willow Tree Campdraft committee.   Recently, Sarah volunteered her time to judge the stock rider class at the St Jospeh’s Junior Campdraft Merriwa.  Sarah’s past volunteer experiences include being Secretary of the Hunter Branch of the ASHS and Secretary and Treasurer of the ABCRA Hunter Zone.   Sarah has lived on mixed operation farms her whole life and is a 7th generation farmer.  Sarah loves everything about rural communities and the lifestyle it provides for families.  One of Sarah’s long term goals is to eventually run her own cattle and horse property, ideally in a family arrangement, so Sarah can take care of the property and give her Dad free time to compete, just like he did for her while she was growing up, riding and competing.  Sarah also wishes to be part of the equine performance industry, not only as a competitor but also assisting with the running of events where possible.   Sarah enjoys attending equestrian events and giving back to the sport she loves wherever she can.  Sarah has previously supported charities such as MS and Breast Cancer and would like to extend her support to other charities, particularly rural focused charities.  She is looking forward to learning about fundraising from the Classic Ladies while supporting the 2023 charities through an industry she so passionate about.  Sarah is excited to be a part of the Quest and making memories and rewarding experiences that she will cherish for a life time.

Mekayla Henning

Australian Stock Horse Society Representative

Hometown: Glenmorgan, QLD

Mekayla is currently working as a Teacher’s Aide and studying a Bachelor of Primary Education.  Mekayla is involved in her local pony club taking part in most disciplines on offer.  She is also a keen campdrafter.  When not on a horse, Mekayla plays touch football and is involved in other local sporting activities on offer in her local area.  Mekayla is a busy young lady, being the treasurer and an instructor at the Surat Pony Club, Secretary of the Glenmorgan State School P & C, Committee member of the Glenmorgan Campdraft and International Officer for the Glenmorgan CWA.  Some of Mekayla’s goals are to complete her Bachelor’s Degree and to improve her horsemanship skills and knowledge to enable her to continue to participate in Stock Horse activities and events.  Since finishing school in 2015, Mekayla has worked in the agriculture and livestock industries, including managing a feedlot in the Northern Territory during the drought.  These experiences showed Mekayla some of the hardships rural communities can experience and in the future she wishes to advocate for small rural communities by helping to organise community events that unite and support the local residents of small rural communities.  In 2018 Mekayla took part in the Moree Agricultural Show Girl Competition, she enjoyed the experience of supporting a rural event and being involved behind the scenes.  Mekayla is looking forward to being part of the Young Ambassador Quest and supporting the Classic Ladies Foundation in their fundraising activities at Nutrien in 2023.

Brook Smith

Hometown: Barraba, NSW

Brook is a busy girl, working in merchandise for a local Stock and Station Agency, studying a Bachelor of GEO Science at the University of New England and working with her Mum on their own campdraft apparel business, “The Comfy Cowgirl”, offering quality apparel and accessories for rural women.  On top of that, Brook is the Barraba Show Society Secretary and an active member of the Barraba Campdraft Committee and in 2022 she coordinated a Stockmans Challenge and ASHS show for those committees.  She is also the coordinator of the Barraba Young Woman’s Incentive.  Brook enjoys campdrafting and loves being part of local sporting competitions such as netball and touch football and swimming.   One of Brook’s ambitions is to finish her degree and major in rural sustainability.  Brook would like to focus on bridging the gap between mining polices and agricultural practices.  Brook and her fiancé Joseph, run a small grazing operation of beef cattle production and trade lambs.  Together they also enjoy competing their ASH team of performance horses.  Brook is looking forward to networking and meeting new people during the Quest, but mostly she is eager to support the Classic Ladies Foundation in their 2023 fundraising efforts, while being an advocate and ambassador for the industry which she passionate about.

Meg Reed

Southern Campdraft Association Representative

Hometown: Violet Town, VIC

Meg finished her year 12 studies in 2022 and has plans to study Primary Teaching at Charles Sturt University in Wagga with a gap year of station work planned for 2023.  Meg is a keen campdraft and rodeo competitor and also plays team sports in her local community.  Meg has a passion for horses and rural life, she grew up riding horses and helping on the farm with the cattle and sheep work.  Meg’s goal is to have a career in teaching.  She wants to make a difference to young children’s lives, helping them to be the best they can be and teaching them how to be kind and supportive of each other.  Meg is currently getting some hands on experience working in a kindergarten and also as a nanny for a lovely three year old girl.  Meg has recently been involved in fundraising for the Cancer Council and loves helping those who need a helping hand.  Meg says, “fundraising puts a smile on her face”.  Being part of the Quest and working alongside the Classic Ladies at Nutrien in 2023 will give Meg plenty of reasons to smile.

Thank you to our Young Ambassador Quest Sponsors

Leigh & Co
Bracelet and earring set

Danny Cramp – handmade headstalls and lead ropes

Lloyd & Kathy Aquilina & Family – trophy bridles