Melbourne Royal Rising Star Award: Giorgi Boucher is a rising star in Victorian Agriculture

A fervent champion of agricultural shows and now the dedicated secretary of her local Cohuna Show, Giorgi Boucher has been rising up the ranks in Victoria’s agricultural show movement for many years now.

Giorgi’s passion for agricultural shows and enthusiastic attitude is what recently won her the prestigious Melbourne Royal Rising Star Award at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show.

“The Melbourne Royal Show has been such a significant event on my calendar for the last ten years, so I’m very thankful that they acknowledge and appreciate my contributions,” said Giorgi.

Giorgi’s passion for agricultural shows began as a school student, showing beef cattle for a number of studs in her hometown of Warragul in Victoria. As she moved across the state, she actively sought out committee roles and volunteering opportunities.

“Each time I moved, I’d say, ‘where’s the show, where's the committee, get me on it,” said Giorgi.

Before moving to Cohuna, 274 kilometres north of Melbourne, Giorgi was actively involved with the Pakenham Show, making her way through the Rural Ambassador program there, before earning runner-up at state level in 2018.

Giorgi has also been the driving force behind the Cohuna Young Farmers Challenge, where she has been successful in growing the competition to an event the entire community gets behind.

Her enduring commitment to the industry and her desire to keep learning and contributing eventually led her to be elected as secretary of the Cohuna Show.

"I put my heart and soul into the shows, and I have for a long time,” Giorgi said.

"When I wrote the application for the Melbourne Royal Rising Star Award, I remember thinking that I just do what everyone else does and that there was no way that would put me aside, but it just concretes that what I'm doing is significant and valued within the community.”

Giorgi acknowledges the significance of such an award, describing how lucky she felt to have been gifted such an invaluable opportunity.

“The Rising Star Award provides me an invitation to get more involved with Melbourne Royal and to see what’s going on behind the scenes as part of the committee internship offered through the program,” she said.

“Being involved in other competitions like the Rural Ambassador Program has also opened so many doors for me in my career and I can’t thank ag shows enough for their support and the opportunities they provide.”

“These competitions are fantastic opportunities for young people in the community and I would say just get out there and have a go, because you never know where it might lead you,” said Giorgi.

Giorgi’s story exemplifies the essence of the Melbourne Royal Rising Star Award – recognising and celebrating individuals who are not just the future of the agricultural show movement but are also the heart and soul of the agricultural community in Victoria.