By Jenel Hunt
There’s something fresh and exciting about being the first to do something. For Breanna Harrison, becoming the first Young Ambassador for the 2024 Apple and Grape Harvest Festival is also fresh in another way, for her sponsor group represents the district’s fruit and vegetable growers.
Growing up on a local farm, Breanna has seen the festival in the flesh many times, but she says that this time it’s her turn to give something back.
“I had some friends who became ambassadors for the last festival and they said they had the best time ever. I saw how much they grew from the experience, too.”
Breanna, 19, said she had always loved farm life and although she’s bartending at the Top Pub at the moment, she will start studying a Bachelor of Agriculture in June. She had begun studies in Brisbane then took a bit of a gap year where she worked as a governess at a station near Cloncurry in northwestern Queensland.
“I liked that. It showed me I like wide open spaces and the outback,” she said.
“I want to go more into the animal side of things, but I’ve always loved agriculture. I think having the Granite Belt Growers Association as my sponsor is a good fit for me,” she said.
Fundraising efforts are already front of mind, with a couple of street stalls coming up, a long lunch in the planning stages and a golf day decided for May.
In the meantime, there’s work, an adorable mini-dachshund to give cuddles to and league tag to play with the Gremlins.
You can keep up to date with Breanna’s fundraising by visiting her facebook page at Granite Belt Growers Association Young Ambassador – Breanna Harrison.
Granite Belt Growers Association president Nathan Baronio said the association was always keen to support one of the district’s outstanding local youth in their efforts to make the Apple and Grape festival one of the highlights on the southeast Queensland events calendar.
“As growers, it is our goal to showcase the amazing local produce from our region, and what better way to do that than during this festival? The Apple and Grape Harvest festival is a wonderful opportunity for the country to see what the Granite Belt has to offer – its contributions to Australia’s food bowl and also its talent and culture,” he said.
Apple and Grape Harvest Festival president Russell Wantling said having the first ambassador sponsored by a growers’ group was a perfect start to the Young Ambassador program.
“Celebrating the region’s horticultural industry is at the heart of the festival and so it is only fitting that the Granite Belt Growers Association has stepped up to be the first sponsor. Nathan and the growers in the region do such amazing work for our area. It just ticks every box,“ he said.
He said the program was extremely important to the festival and the community.
“The ambassadors help to guarantee the future success of the festival, but I feel that having them also brings our community and businesses together. It is a great way for these young people to learn more about the place we all call home and the amazing produce that this region delivers, too.“
With preparations already well under way, the festival is shaping up to be one of the biggest seen in recent years. Anyone interested in being a 2024 Young Ambassador or sponsoring a Young Ambassador can phone Apple and Grape Young Ambassador director Samantha Wantling on 0439 420 289 or co-director – and the reigning festival Ambassador – Jordan Cassidy on 0473 826 228.
