South Australia’s oldest copper mining town is probably best known as the home of cattle pastoralist Sir Sidney Kidman.

But these strong beginnings, are now echoed in the town’s largest employer, fourth-generation family-owned stockfeed business JT Johnson and Sons.

The world-leading hay company provides jobs for more than 100 people, with 65 per cent of them living in the Light Regional Council area.

JT Johnson and Sons contracts around 100 local growers to supply 160,000 metric tonnes of product each year, reaching domestic, Asian and Middle Eastern fodder markets.

“As much as a business, Johnsons is a part of the local community,” General Manager Andrew Hayward says.

“By using local growers, we provide local farm income as well as jobs for truck drivers and farm workers.”

The town’s pride in its agricultural achievements is celebrated through the annual Kapunda and Light Agricultural Show, which is celebrating 165 years this year.

While showcasing local agriculture, horticulture, produce, cookery and art, the event also hosts competitions and entertainment with rides, musicians, stalls, displays and a showbag trail.

Janet Hazel from the Show Society management committee says the award-winning show is run by locals.

“The whole of the Kapunda show is run voluntarily. There are no paid positions at all,” Janet says.

“We have about 100 volunteers for the event and we’re very proud of that.”

Litl Mo’s Bakery and Café owner Brendan Moten says he loves to get around community events like the show.

“I think the best thing about Kapunda since I’ve been here is these committees and shows,” Brendan says.

“There’s the Regional Farm Fair; the Kapunda Rodeo, which is hugely successful, the mega garage sale, which I’d say is our biggest day of the year; and lots more.

“The community spirit is really good, and people are so friendly.”

Lucas Street Mural, which has been named one of the best public art experiences in the country. Photo: Lara Pacillo.

Head of the Kapunda Business Alliance Matthew Moate says there’s an attitude of pride within the town that bounces between different businesses and groups in the community.

“I moved here seven years ago, and I’ve never lived in a town that has so much community pride and support,” he says.

“We have a range of community groups that actually collaborate rather than fight for a piece of the pie.

“By working together, we actually make that pie bigger.”

Amanda Keller, owner of the wooden toy store Wild Woodland Toys advises those who are after gifts for older people to go down the road to the giftware store Tiny Nest.

Fruit and veg shop Coopers Fresh supports local farmers and growers by sourcing local produce as close as it can to the region.

One of Main Street’s most recent additions is a preloved bookstore which is self-titled and run by Friends of Kapunda, a not-for-profit volunteer-driven community group.

Chairman of the new group, 87-year-old Bill Adams, started the initiative to help fill the gap left by the recent closure of Kapunda’s Rotary and Lions clubs. The store sells 60 to 120 donated books a day and the profits are used to help those in need.

“Everything we do goes back into the community 100 per cent,” Bill says.

“We’re all working together and that’s what I love to see. It’s been absolutely incredible.”

Kapunda’s pride is painted along the walls of the town itself where murals decorate the buildings.

The Lucas Street Mural, completed by local artist Danny Menzel and a team of 15 volunteers, has been named one of the best public art experiences in the country, after taking home the top prize for the Best External Mural at the 2020 Australian Street Art Awards.

It forms part of the broader Kapunda Mural Town project, which is made up of more than 10 art installations in the area.

The community’s honour and pride shines through the most when adversity hits.

At the beginning of the year, JT Johnson and Sons suffered a major fire when a hay shed caught alight.

A few months later, Kapunda High School was also left devastated after its heritage-listed Eringa building, which was once the home of Sir Sidney Kidman, went up in flames.

The community banded together on both occasions, helping to remove tons of damaged hay at JT Johnson and Sons, and are doing everything they can to support the rebuilding of Eringa, which the school has occupied for 100 years.

“The philanthropic nature of this community stems from the mining days,” Matthew says.

“Everybody’s doing their bit to make it a better town and are proud of it too.”

 Kapunda is one of five finalists in the Agriculture Town of the Year Award sponsored by PIRSA to recognise South Australian towns that are excelling in agricultural practices and the flow on effect they have on communities. The winner will be announced at Solstice Media’s Regional Showcase Awards at the UKARIA Cultural Centre on Friday 4 November.