When Lameroo was named South Australia’s AgTown of the Year in 2025, the win landed as more than a title – it was a moment of recognition decades in the making.

The Award is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), delivered in partnership with InDaily.

For a town built on agriculture, shaped by generations and sustained by volunteers, the accolade validated something locals had long known: small communities can deliver big impact.

“Winning was honestly overwhelming, in the best possible way,” says Lameroo Forward co-owner and McPiggery operator Nicole McMahon. “There was a huge sense of pride, not just for Lameroo Forward, but for the entire community. It felt like validation that what we’re doing locally matters, and that small towns can have big impact.”

At the heart of that success is Lameroo Forward, a volunteer-led group focused on strengthening the town’s long-term future. Its work spans economic development, tourism promotion, community events and advocacy – “essentially anything that helps make Lameroo a great place to live, work and visit,” McMahon says.

But the group’s ethos runs deeper than projects and initiatives.

“At its heart, Lameroo Forward is about collaboration and pride,” she says. “It’s people stepping up to shape their own future rather than waiting for others to do it for them.”

That mindset was central to the town’s decision to apply for the AgTown of the Year Award.

“We genuinely believe in Lameroo and the role regional agricultural communities play in Australia’s food and fibre future,” McMahon says. “The application process itself was a chance to reflect on what makes our town special – our farming innovation, resilience, volunteer spirit and the way people support one another.”

Even before the win, that process proved valuable.

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“It encouraged us to take stock of our achievements, bring stories together and involve more people in showcasing the town,” she says. “We learnt so much about our community throughout the process.”

Winning, however, amplified that impact – both within the town and beyond it.

Five months on, McMahon says the effects are still being felt.

“It has boosted confidence and visibility,” she says. “People talk about Lameroo with renewed pride, and there’s a stronger sense of belief in our place and what we can achieve together.”

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There has also been a tangible shift in momentum.

“We’ve seen increased interest from visitors, stronger engagement with local initiatives and more energy behind community projects,” she says. “Just as importantly, the Award has reinforced a shared narrative: that Lameroo is progressive, resilient, and worth backing.”

For Southern Mallee Council Mayor Ron Valentine, that sense of recognition is critical in a regional context.

“It gives the community a lift – that sense of belonging and that you still matter,” he says. “Small rural communities are struggling to have any voice, and this shows that they do matter.”

Valentine, in his first term as mayor, has seen firsthand the power of community-led action in Lameroo. He points to the role of volunteer groups like Lameroo Forward in driving real outcomes.

“It’s the drive of community groups and volunteers that really got this to happen,” he says. “It’s the younger community — 25 to 40-year-olds — driving this.

“The majority of good things happening in the community at the moment are volunteer and community driven.”

That includes long-term projects that have required persistence and determination – from town improvements to initiatives that enhance liveability and attract visitors.

“Lameroo Forward spent a decade getting the silos painted and wouldn’t let anything get in the way,” Valentine says. “For them, applying for AgTown was a natural progression.

“It reflects the value people place on living in Lameroo, that they’re willing to go that extra mile.”

That sense of ownership, he says, is what sets regional communities apart.

“When you get out into the country, it’s more honest and authentic,” he says. “There’s a real sense of wellbeing and belonging here that you don’t always find elsewhere.”

For McMahon, that shared commitment is exactly what the AgTown of the Year Award celebrates.

“Winning AgTown of the Year was never about a single group – it belongs to the entire community,” she says. “From farmers and business owners to volunteers, families and young people, this recognition reflects what’s possible when people care deeply about their place and work together.”

It’s also why she believes other towns should seriously consider entering the 2026 Awards.

“Don’t second-guess whether your town is ‘big enough’, ‘successful enough’, or ‘ready enough’,” she says. “Every regional community has a story worth telling.”

Beyond the possibility of winning, the process itself can be transformative.

“The application builds pride and connection,” McMahon says. “It gets people thinking about who they are as a community and what they stand for.”

Valentine agrees, pointing to the role recognition plays in strengthening communities.

“These things are recognition of effort,” he says. “They help bring people together with a common sense of purpose and belonging.”

As Lameroo looks ahead, that sense of purpose continues to drive new ideas and initiatives – along with a long-awaited community celebration to mark the win, rescheduled after weather disruptions.

“When it does go ahead, it will be a whole-of-community celebration,” McMahon says. “An opportunity to thank volunteers, recognise contributors and share the achievement with locals, supporters and visitors in true Lameroo style.”

But the focus now is firmly on the future – not just for Lameroo but for regional communities across South Australia.

Nominations for the 2026 AgTown of the Year Awards are now open, offering towns the chance to share their stories, build momentum and gain statewide recognition.

For McMahon, the advice is clear: back yourselves.

“The application process itself builds pride and connection,” she says. “And the potential rewards – visibility, momentum and recognition – are worth it.”

In Lameroo, that belief has already paid off – not just in a title, but in something far more lasting: a renewed confidence in what a small town can achieve when it backs itself.