Now in its fifth year, the South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year Award aims to recognise and honour towns in South Australia that excel in agricultural practices and deliver a positive flow-on effect to their communities.

The nomination process is open to everyone, and it is as easy as visiting the website www.agtown.com.au to submit a favourite town.

Last year, Mypolonga on the River Murray took home the crown, ahead of 53 other towns nominated across the state.

With a population of 475, the tight-knit community of “Mypo”, as it is affectionately known, was delighted to win the accolade.

The Ag Town of the Year program, run by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, serves as an important platform for showcasing the innovative and world-class agricultural practices in use across the state.

It also helps to bring attention to the many entrepreneurial agricultural businesses that are diversifying, value-adding and experimenting to create a stronger future for each of their communities.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in South Australia’s economy, contributing approximately $31 billion annually, or just over one quarter of the gross state product, while around 185,000 people are employed in the state’s regions.

The sector provides significant employment opportunities and serves as a catalyst for local businesses.

With just over a quarter of the state’s population residing in regional areas, the Ag Town of the Year Award offers an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of primary producers and the supportive communities surrounding them.

Every town in South Australia is eligible for nomination as the Ag Town of the Year.

To participate, individuals can cast their votes through the online platform at www.agtown.com.au until June 5.

Once the nominations are in, the public will have the chance to vote for their preferred town, considering the role it plays in fostering primary industries and driving regional growth.

The ten towns garnering the most votes will earn the distinction of being this year’s finalists.

To further highlight their achievements, the finalist towns will have promotional videos and stories produced by Solstice Media, the publisher of InDaily.

The ultimate winner will receive a commemorative sign for their town entrance, a joyous community celebration event, and a feature in SALIFE magazine.

The Ag Town of the Year Award program is reported through InDaily’s regional news coverage and the announcement of this year’s winner will take place at Solstice Media’s Regional Showcase Awards on November 9, 2023.

To nominate a town or learn more about the award, visit www.agtown.com.au