The rain failed to dampen the community spirit as hundreds of people flocked to McCorquindale Park for the Ag Town Party on Friday to celebrate Penola’s 2024 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year award.
The Agricultural Town of the Year Award is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and delivered in partnership with InDaily with the winning town taking home the title, a sign and a $5000 cash prize which Penola used to deliver the free Ag Town Party.
The celebrations got under way with the unveiling of the sign, which was part of the prize, now located along the highway.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven cut the ribbon just as the heavens opened with some much-needed rain.
Joined by Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll, development director Emma Clay, Councillor Chris Brodie, Ben Hood MLC, Cross Border Commissioner Kelly-Anne Saffin and Primary Producers SA Chair Professor Simon Maddocks, the main formalities were saved for a presentation with the community at McCorquindale Park.
Minister Scriven, who also presented the award in October at the InDaily and PIRSA event, spoke about the value of regional communities and the diversity that Penola encompasses.
She also divulged a little of the judges’ feedback, with one in particular saying ‘Penola is Ag on top of Ag on top of Ag’.
Minister Scriven, also a Penola girl herself once, said it was great to be back and have time to look around her old home town.
The celebrations continued with food trucks, live music, food for all the family, free pony rides and a hotly contested hobby horse competition that saw some very excited youngsters go home with incredible prizes.
The party coincided with the Warrawindi Farms Winter Showdown, a junior cattle judging competition with young handlers showing their skills.
Grant District Council is currently lobbying for the 2025 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year with nominations for Mingbool and Port MacDonnell competing against 95 other towns for the title.
Community support is vital to help Port MacDonnell and Mingbool progress together to the top 10 of the awards with voting now open to the public online at www.AgTown.com.au and closing June 20.
