SA’s Top 10 agricultural towns revealed

The top 10 towns in the running to be crowned the 2025 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year have been revealed.

From Cummins and Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula to Bordertown and Port MacDonnell in the South East - the top 10 list - whittled down from a record breaking 96 nominated towns – are made of regional communities that showcase farming innovation, community resilience, sustainability and contributions to both the local and state-wide agricultural sectors.

The top ten nominated towns for this year's award are:

• Bordertown

• Cummins

• Jamestown

• Keith

• Kimba

• Lameroo

• Mount Pleasant

• Orroroo

• Port MacDonnell

• and Strathalbyn

  
  

These towns will now compose and provide a written submission to an independent judging panel, which will assess their contribution to agriculture, community strength, and regional leadership.

From this group, three finalists will be selected for town visits before the ultimate winner is crowned later in the year. The towns are judged on criteria including:

• Agricultural innovation — adoption of new technologies, climate-smart farming, productivity gains

• Economic impact — strengthening local economies, job creation, added value industries

• Community engagement — participation in local ag events, volunteerism, youth development

• Sustainability — environmental stewardship, water and land management, biosecurity initiatives

• Agricultural education and leadership —school and community education and leadership programs.

  
  

The winning town will receive a sign for their town entrance recognising its achievements, a community celebration event, a trophy, and extensive media exposure showcasing the town’s contribution to the state.

Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said its been inspiring to see so many communities stepping up and embracing innovation in primary industries despite the ongoing challenges of the current drought.

“This year’s top 10 nominees reflect the breadth of agricultural excellence across South Australia - from pioneering farmers to forward-thinking local councils and agricultural champions,” she said.

“This award isn’t just about production - it’s about people. We’re celebrating the communities that are truly living the values of partnership, resilience and innovation and showing why South Australia is a global leader in primary industries.”