The judging panel was impressed with her feature article, "Emissions Omissions", which explored the potential for storing all Australia's carbon emissions in soil.

The J. B. Fairfax Scholarship for rural journalism aims to encourage quality coverage of rural and regional affairs by Australian journalists and has been established through a private donation by John B. Fairfax (a director of Fairfax Media).

The award is supported by Rural Press, a subsidiary of Fairfax Media, and is managed by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF), a philanthropic organisation which seeks to encourage educational excellence and foster sustainable rural and regional communities by supporting quality youth community programs.

RASF manager, Maria Chilcott, said 21-year-old Brooke Hargraves was selected from a quality field of talented students.

Each scholarship applicant submitted a feature article which explored a contemporary issue, trend or activity of interest to rural and regional communities. The applicants were also required to demonstrate an active interest in rural affairs and a commitment to pursuing a career in rural journalism.

Ms Hargraves, who comes from the Queensland provincial city of Maryborough, said she was thrilled to win the award.

"It's very rare for university students to get such a fantastic helping hand and the money will go a long way to helping me achieve my goals," she said.

"I grew up in rural Queensland and would love to return to the bush and pursue a career in rural journalism.

"In the long term I would like to expand the current online news and current affairs in rural and regional Australia."