From paddock to powerhouse: Celebrating SA’s agricultural towns
Innovation, resilience and community spirit are at the heart of South Australia’s regional success, with AgTown nominations now open for 2026.
Regional South Australia doesn’t just support the state’s economy – in many ways, it defines it.
From broadacre cropping and livestock production to research, innovation and export supply chains, the state’s agricultural towns are the engine rooms that keep food on tables and regional communities thriving. They are also places where identity is shaped as much by the land as by the people who work it.
With nominations now open for the 2026 Agricultural Town of the Year award, communities across the state are being called on to step forward and share the stories behind their impact.
The award is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), delivered in partnership with InDaily, and recognises towns that not only produce, but also collaborate, innovate and sustain the industries that underpin South Australia’s prosperity.
Previous winners show there is no single formula for success – but there is a common thread: a deep connection between agriculture and community, and the ability to leverage opportunities and respond effectively to challenges.
On the Eyre Peninsula, Wudinna represents one model of agricultural strength – a diverse, research-connected farming hub where production and innovation go hand in hand — a model that saw Wudinna named AgTown of the Year in 2023.
“Wudinna and districts is a dry land farming region, producing wheat, lentils, canola, barley, peas, vetch (legumes), sheep and cattle,” Wudinna District Council mayor Eleanor Scholz says. “Agriculture underpins the economic and social fabric of our communities.”
This mix of cropping and livestock reflects the adaptability required in low rainfall environments, while local institutions help drive continuous improvement. The SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre delivers critical research for dryland farming systems, and AIR EP plays a key role in attracting investment into agricultural research, development and extension across the region.
But Wudinna’s contribution is not just measured in production – it is also in how the community sustains itself.
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“The community has to work together to keep going,” Scholz says. “Most vital services and community events are driven by volunteers, such as the ambulance and Country Fire Service.”
That reliance on volunteers is a defining feature of many agricultural towns, where community members step in to maintain essential services, social infrastructure and liveability.
Even healthcare access depends on local commitment, with ratepayers supporting the provision of a medical centre and GP services – a reality shared by many rural communities.
For Nicolle McKinlay, a former Wudinna Area School teacher who led the town’s successful 2023 AgTown application, this interplay between agriculture and community is what makes the town so significant.
“Wudinna is a proud rural community and serves as a key service hub for the surrounding farming districts,” she says. “The land, climate and innovation of local farmers make Wudinna a resilient and important agricultural region.”
The region’s output reinforces South Australia’s role as a major agricultural producer.
“These industries not only support local livelihoods but also contribute to feeding both the nation and export markets,” McKinlay says.
Just as importantly, the future is being actively built through education and local pathways.
“At Wudinna Area School, agriculture is not just a subject, it’s embedded in the culture of learning,” she says, highlighting hands-on programs, industry links and real-world career opportunities.
It’s this whole-of-community approach – from paddock to classroom – that helped secure Wudinna’s AgTown title.
“Winning the Ag Town of the Year in 2023 was a moment of immense pride for Wudinna,” McKinlay says. “It recognised the strength and innovation of local agriculture, the resilience of the community, and the deep connection between people, land, and industry.”
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Further east, Pinnaroo — the 2020 winner — showcases a different but equally significant agricultural model, where diversification and water access have shaped a dynamic and evolving regional economy.
Located in the Mallee, the region’s agriculture is defined by a mix of traditional broadacre cropping and increasing diversification, driven by intensive use of the local sub-artesian water supply. Dryland cropping remains the backbone, focusing primarily on wheat and barley alongside legumes such as lentils, but irrigation has unlocked new opportunities.
Today, the area is recognised as a major potato-growing region, supported by significant investment in packing and processing infrastructure, while livestock – particularly sheep for wool and meat – continues to play a central role.
At the same time, local producers are pushing into niche and value-added products, from sprouted lentil flour to specialised turf, reflecting a broader trend of innovation in regional agriculture.
Southern Mallee Council mayor Ron Valentine says the town’s AgTown success was built on that combination of industry strength and community drive.
“Pinnaroo’s 2020 Ag Town of the Year award is a proud testament to a community that came together with relentless drive and enthusiasm to prove that size doesn’t matter,” he says. “Local groups, united through The Pinnaroo Project, delivered the vision and commercial momentum that made this possible.”
“This recognition marked a significant milestone in Pinnaroo’s ongoing story of resilience: a small rural town whose strong local businesses, community-led health and wellbeing initiatives, and lasting legacy continue to lift the whole Southern Mallee region.”
Where Wudinna highlights the strength of diversified dryland farming and research links, Pinnaroo demonstrates how water access, value-adding and co-ordinated local leadership can transform a regional economy.
Together, they show the breadth of agricultural excellence across South Australia.
So what makes an Agricultural Town of the Year?
It’s not simply about output or scale. It’s about community, council, business and industry working together. Judges look for communities that demonstrate innovation in agriculture, strong industry connections and a commitment to sustainability. Just as critically, they assess how towns support their people – through education, volunteerism, local leadership and the ability to adapt in the face of challenges such as climate variability and global market pressures.
In short, it’s about towns that don’t just produce food, but build futures.
For Mayor Scholz, the award was also an opportunity to pause and recognise those contributions.
“It was a celebration of all the businesses, organisations and volunteers that contribute to making our community what it is,” she says. “We go through good and rough times together.”
With nominations for the 2026 AgTown of the Year Awards now open for 2026, that spirit remains at the heart of the program, offering towns the chance to showcase not only what they grow, but how they work together to grow South Australia’s economy and identity.
The nomination period runs until May 6, and is open to everyone.
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