Meet Wee Waa’s 2026 Young Woman Competition entrants

MEET the 2026 Wee Waa Young Woman Competition entrants.

The Wee Waa Young Woman Competition is a highlight of the local show, with community members gathering for the announcement and participants describing the initiative as a rewarding experience.

This year, Wee Waa’s Elly-May Johns and Spring Plains’ Zoe Pocock are the junior entrants, while Wee Waarians Mackenzie Jones and Montana Winter have thrown their hats in the ring for the senior title.

The winners and runners-up will be revealed at the Wee Waa Show, set to be held on 14 and 15 August.

As reported previously, judging was held on 12 July, followed by a luncheon and cocktail evening to celebrate the district’s youth and show movement.

The ACCIONA Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman Competition, formerly known as Miss Showgirl, has been empowering young women in rural and regional NSW for more than 60 years.

The program recognises leadership, community spirit and a passion for agriculture while developing ambassadors for rural NSW through communication, presentation and networking opportunities.

Senior entrant Mackenzie Jones.

A highlight of the initiative for many entrants is the people they meet, making lifelong friends with other young women from across the state who share similar interests.

Up to 16 finalists, selected through Local and Zone competitions, take part in a six-day program at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, culminating in a prestigious public speaking showcase at the Showground Amphitheatre.

Judges Darrell Tiemens (NSC mayor), Katie Watson and Ali Smith were blown away by the entrants’ presentation, understanding of current issues, and commitment to agriculture and the Wee Waa community.

Wee Waa Show Society’s Young Woman competition steward Nikita Hessel praised the four young local women who stepped out of their comfort zones and put their hands up to be 2026 entrants, supporting their local show and representing their home town with pride.

Despite their varied interests and career aspirations, the four entrants share a commitment to community, leadership development, a passion for agriculture and a desire to champion opportunities available in rural Australia.

Montana is a 20-year-old real estate assistant agent from Wee Waa. A former Wee Waa Show Society Young Woman winner, Montana wants to participate in the initiative again to support the show society and local community.

Junior entrant Elly-May Johns.

Her studies in agriculture, business and legal studies have helped shape her understanding of rural industries.

Montana is actively involved in the community, including the Wee Waa Rotaract Club and the Narrabri Performance Horse Association.

Outside of work, Montana enjoys campdrafting, show riding, camping and photography, and hopes the competition will help her further develop her confidence and leadership skills while representing her community.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England, 21-year-old Mackenzie Jones hopes to become an agriculture teacher and inspire the next generation of rural students.

Her extensive community involvement includes previously serving as school captain, deputy mayor and mayor of the Narrabri Shire Youth Council, working as a lifeguard and volunteering with Western Namoi Veterinary Services.

Mackenzie’s dedication has been recognised through several awards, including Wee Waa Show Society Junior Young Woman of the Year in 2022 and Narrabri Shire Young Citizen of the Year in 2023.

She said the competition provides entrants with the opportunity to advocate for rural communities and encourage other young people to step outside their comfort zones and pursue their goals.

Senior entrant Montana Winter.

Year 9 student at Wee Waa High School Zoe Pocock has developed a strong interest in the agricultural industry and hopes to pursue a career in the sector after finishing high school. The 15-year-old said she enjoyed making time to contribute to her school and local community through a variety of initiatives, such as Do It For Dolly Day and the World’s Greatest Shave fundraisers and awareness campaigns. Zoe wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Outside the classroom, Zoe enjoys touch football, running and spending time with family and friends, and hopes the competition will help her build confidence while representing her community.

Zoe said she entered the competition to challenge herself, build confidence and develop new skills while representing her community.

Elly-May Johns is a year 10 student at Namoi Valley Christian School (NVCS) who is dedicated to achieving her goals both academically and personally.

She is considering a career in nursing or agriculture and has a strong desire to give back to her school and local community.

Elly-May enjoys taking the time to help younger students at NVCS and sees great benefit in initiatives such as the PCYC Unite program, providing good outcomes and entertainment for youth in Wee Waa.

Elly-May said she entered the competition to step outside her comfort zone, represent Wee Waa and embrace new opportunities for personal growth and leadership.