Mackillop group honoured by Ag Ex

The alliance celebrated its 10-year anniversary at a dinner attended by more than 100 people.

At the event, the Mackillop Farm Management Group won the prestigious PIRSA Ag Ex Grower Group award for 2015.

Alliance committee member and one of the award judges, the Hart Field Site Group's Sarah Noack, said the group deserved the award because it had a clear vision for the future, an understanding of the challenges faced by South East farmers, the ability to achieve goals, and strength in membership.

The other major winner on the night was the Mid North Young Guns group, which received the encouragement award.

The main award is worth $2000 and the encouragement award $500.

Ms Noack said the Young Guns group represented a "passionate group of young producers".

Last year's grower group award winner was Partners in Grain.

At Monday's presentation, PinG's Natalie Sommerville outlined how the award had benefited the group.

PinG offers targeted business development and assists 13 women's group across SA, and their communities.

The group also works with other farming systems groups to deliver significant natural resource management outcomes.

PinG has also run women's field days at Minnipa and Hart.

"The 2011 field day at Hart was our biggest achievement in the past 10 years," Ms Sommerville said.

"It was held just after the main Hart Field Day and it had speakers talk on topics ranging from understanding how men think differently to women to farm revegetation."

The concept developed from there, and as a way for attendees to avoid exorbitant childcare costs PinG was based in a marquee the following year.

"By providing the marquee, it offered protection from the weather and wind so attendees could bring their children along and the weather conditions would not be a barrier to learning," she said.

In 2014 the event grew to target not only women, but men as well.