Mr Keast was recognised for his service to the agricultural society movement around NSW and Australia.

Mr Keast’s wife Beverley said he would have been humbled.

“(Shows) were his hobby, his passion,” she said.

Mrs Keast said her husband believed agricultural shows were one of the most important parts of a town’s heritage and once they were lost, they could not be recovered.

It’s why Mr Keast worked so hard to bring young people in, through junior judging or showgirl competitions.

“He was passionate about getting young people involved.”

Mrs Keast said Mr Keast was always proud of people from Junee or any town who made it through to the state and national level competitions.

From 1986 to 2001, Mr Keast showed cattle in Sydney himself.

Mrs Keast said Mr Keast believed the shows weren’t just about judging produce or stock, but promoting the town and district they were based in.

Mr Keast joined the Junee Show Society in 1972, was president for five years, vice-president for nine and was a member of the executive committee from 1994.

In 1988, he became a delegate for the Agricultural Societies of NSW, eventually serving as president from 2001 to 2004 and as vice-president for six years.

Mr Keast was a councillor for the NSW Royal Agricultural Society of NSW from 2009 to 2012, he led the cattle committee and worked with the sheep and youth committees.

But all the while he was working with state and national organisers of agricultural show societies, he never forgot Junee.

Junee Show Society president Peter Commens said Mr Keast never forgot where he came from.

“He was always there to help out,” Mr Commens said.

Mr Commens said Mr Keast worked incredibly hard behind the scenes for Junee’s show.

“It took a lot of people to cover what he used to do before the Junee show,” Mr Commens said.

“A lot of people didn’t realise what he used to do.”

When the federal government formed an advisory committee to develop skills for show executives, Mr Keast was appointed chairman, teaching people how to promote, find sponsors and attract young people to get involved.

“Nothing was too much for show societies,” Mrs Keast said.

“He just did it because he loved it.”