Meanwhile, independent Ian Donald, the eighth person to announce their candidacy, drew the last spot.

Candidates and their representatives gathered at the NSW Electoral Commission’s office in Orange as returning officer Ross Baker drew the names from a barrel.

Janelle Bicknell will lead the ballot in first place, the Nationals’ Scott Barrett is in second spot with Philip Donato from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party rounding out the top three.

Ms Bicknell was thrilled to secure first place and said it brought “advantages” such as benefiting from voters who only mark the first box on a ballot.

She said the Central West Greens would soon determine if or where the party’s preferences went.

She attributed the growth of the Greens vote to the “lack of support from the Nationals for our farmers”.

Mr Donato from the Shooters Party was hoping third place on the ballot, his wife’s lucky number, would deliver a win.

“It doesn’t really matter where you are, it’s all part of the build-up and excitement for the election,” he said.

Mr Donato said the Shooters’ Party would be preferencing Labor above the Nationals, but behind independents. He believed Labor would place the Shooters’ Party above the Nationals.

“There was a bit of misinformation that we were going to put Labor in second place,” he said.

“There’s always room for change, I’ve left preference negotiations to Rob Brown and Rob Borsak.”

Orange City councillors Kevin Duffy and Scott Munro are placed fourth and fifth.

Labor’s Bernard Fitzsimon is in sixth place, above the Christian Democratic Party’s Dianne Decker.

Mr Fitzsimon compared winning the ballot draw to winning the office sweepstakes during the Melbourne Cup.

“It’s a bit thrilling for the moment,” he said.

“All it is, is a list, the voters are smart enough to put their number one in a box. Even with the draw, the outcome is unpredictable.”

In second place, Mr Barrett said he was “happy to be in the top eight”.

“The people of Orange are smart enough to look at each candidate, what they have to offer and what is going to be best for the Central West in the long term.”