Sarah Lavelle’s SA Rural Ambassador Of The Year Win Celebrates A Lifelong Commitment To Country Shows And Community
Clare’s Sarah Lavelle has been named the 2026 South Australian Rural Ambassador of the Year, recognising a contribution to country communities that stretches well beyond the show ring.
At 29, Sarah has spent most of her life around country shows. She was in the saddle almost before she could walk and competing by the time she was six years old. These days she’s the one judging, organising and making sure the next generation gets the same opportunities she did.
And while country shows might be where it all started, Sarah’s habit of putting her hand up stretches across the Clare Valley wine industry, local sporting clubs and plenty in between.
Living The Country Show Life
Horses and shows have been part of Sarah’s life for as long as she can remember. Her grandfather had racehorses, her mum fell in love with showing, and weekends were soon spent travelling to shows with a tight bunch of five or six horse loving families, with competitions doubling as holidays.
“It was such great a lifestyle. Most weekends that’s what we were doing, and it was so much fun,” Sarah said.
Along the way there were plenty of mentors who gave Sarah opportunities that shaped far more than her riding career, and at just 19 she took on the rather sizeable job of ringmaster at her local show.
When she moved to Clare six years ago knowing virtually no one, it was the show community that once again gave her somewhere to belong.
“The Clare Show became my community family,” she said.
Today Sarah sits on the Clare Show Committee, is Ringmaster for Horses in Action and is an accredited Royal and National Show Horse judge.
Putting Her Hand Up
Her regional involvement stretches well beyond the showgrounds. She works as Direct-to-Consumer and Marketing Manager at Sevenhill Cellars, sits on the Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association board and is the South Australian State Champion for Rootlings Australia, supporting young people working in the wine industry.
And apparently she still had a few spare hours left in the week, so stuck her hand up to become the canteen manager at South Clare Sports Club. This is despite not playing herself or having children involved in the club. She simply sees sporting clubs, show societies and community groups as important parts of country life, and believes they need people willing to put in the effort to see them thrive.
It’s also why she wants more young people involved in country shows.
Bringing The Next Generation In
Sarah believes committees need to actively invite younger people in and “demystify” what volunteering involves, particularly for young competitors making the jump from the show ring to the committee room.
She also believes country shows remain as relevant as ever, bringing people together like few other events do, providing families with an affordable day out and giving regional communities an important opportunity to tell the story of agriculture and primary industries.
That same community spirit is something she loves about working in the Clare Valley wine industry.
“When one succeeds, we all succeed,” she said. “When we prop others up, the whole industry benefits.”
The Rural Ambassador Awards are open to young people aged 20 to 30 and recognise their contribution to rural communities and the agricultural show movement. The program is sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.
Taking SA To The National Stage
Sarah will now represent South Australia at the national finals in Perth next year, where she’s looking forward to seeing what other states are doing, swapping ideas with fellow ambassadors and bringing a few of those learnings home.
Before then, she plans to make the most of her year as SA Rural Ambassador by getting around to as many country shows as possible.
And if her track record is anything to go by, there’s a fair chance you’ll spot her at a country show near you.
