Federal Government’s $20 million show of support

WA’s agricultural show societies will be able to tap into $20 million in Federal Government funding to boost regional town’s annual agriculture shows and plug the rural-city gap.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program applications were open with $20 million available to reinvigorate showgrounds.

Show societies and peak agricultural show bodies could be eligible to receive grants of up to $500,000 to upgrade, maintain, buy or build new showground infrastructure and attractions through the funding.

Speaking in Brunswick yesterday, Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said it was important to support rural agricultural shows, given the events’ economic injection to regional communities.

“There is $20 million to be shared among our 561 agricultural show societies across the country,” she said.

“We know what a key driver of positivity in regional communities our ag shows can be (and) we also know that they’re run by volunteers.

“We want to make sure, as a government, that they have access to funds that will help them fix and upgrade their infrastructure (and) make sure they can put on events that attract more people.

“It is for shows, just like here in Brunswick, to access infrastructure that will be a game-changer to attract the next generation of show-goers and perform a key function in connecting city folk to agriculture.”

The funding comes in addition to the Federal Government’s $720,000 pledge to Agricultural Shows Australia to boost the agricultural show network and promote farmers.

Applications close on December 13, with successful applicants set to be announced in the first half of next year.

The 88th annual LiveLighter Brunswick Agricultural Show, led by the Brunswick Agricultural Society, will be held at the Brunswick Showgrounds on October 26.