Five finalists named in Ag Town of the Year

Kapunda, Orroroo, Booleroo Centre, Mypolonga and Kimba are in the running for the title after the public voted on 59 towns nominated across SA.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the five finalists represented communities which were home to a diverse range of agriculture.

"The Ag Town of the Year Award recognises the important role our farmers and the agriculture sector plays in everyday lives of regional communities," he said.

"It is pleasing to have thousands of people again engaged in the awards program, supporting their favourite agricultural town.

"Every town nominated for this award should be immensely proud of what their community has achieved and will continue to achieve in the face of significant challenges, such as COVID-19 restrictions and drought.

"SA's primary industries and agribusiness generated $15.2 billion in revenue in 2018-19, making this sector a critical economic driver, as well as being important to the wellbeing of the state as a whole."

Kapunda has been a finalist every year since the award was introduced in 2019, while Kimba is also a previous finalist.

Mypolonga, Orroroo and Booleroo Centre are new to the top five.

The next step in the awards process will see an independent panel of experienced judges visit the five finalist towns in October.

The panel consists of Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA's John Rothwell, Regional Development South Australia's Rob Kerin, South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils' Erika Vickery, AgCommunicators' Belinda Cay, ABC Rural's Nikolai Beilharz and Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce-SA's Rilka Warbanoff.

The announcement of the 2021 Agricultural Town of the Year is scheduled for Friday, November 19 at the Regional Showcase.

Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.