Penola celebrates AgTown of the Year win
The South East community of Penola gathered last Friday afternoon for a party to celebrate its win as South Australia’s 2024 Agricultural Town of the Year, where heavy rain on the day was welcomed after a long, dry season.
“Like half of South Australia at the moment, everyone’s in drought, so to have everyone come together and be part of such an amazing experience is really special,” said Penola High School teacher Cory O’Connor.
“The community was so excited about the win. Everyone got around it. It was probably one of the greatest highlights Penola’s had for a couple of years. It just showed everyone coming together and winning something to be proud of.”
Agricultural Town of the Year awards recognise South Australian towns that are excelling in agricultural practices and are great places to live and work.
After the ribbon-cutting for Penola’s new ‘2024 Agricultural Town of the Year’ sign on Riddoch Highway, celebrations at McCorquindale Park showcased the town’s vibrant community and deep agricultural heritage.
(L-R) Wattle Range Council Mayor Des Noll, Cross Border Commissioner South Australia Kelly-Anne Saffin, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven, Primary Producers SA Chair Simon Maddocks
More than 300 people attended the party, including Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven, and two of the four 2024 AgTown judges – Primary Producers SA Chair Simon Maddocks, and Cross Border Commissioner South Australia Kelly-Anne Saffin.
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A machinery display lined the entry into the event, where there was live music from local bands Lady and the Amp and Stamina. Children enjoyed free pony rides, cowboy hat-making and a hobby horsing competition.
Roosters Rotisseries served hot meat rolls, while the Penola Show Society offered donated soup and ran a sausage sizzle, with free sausages for kids and free coffee for all. Bellwether Wines and Penola Football Club offered drinks on the night.
The event coincided with the first night of the annual Winter Showdown, a cattle and handler competition run by Warrawindi Farms to prepare young people for the Royal Adelaide Show. The Winter Showdown played out alongside the AgTown celebration.
“It’s nice to reflect on how good we’ve actually got it in Penola,” said Warrawindi Farms owner David Galpin.
“It’s a great area. We don’t just sit and wait for things to happen. We make things happen.
“And this event with the cattle show and kids, it’s brought the community together. Especially in a season like this, you need a pat on the back, and to win something is always a good feeling.”
Located just over four hours from Adelaide, in the heart of the world-renowned Coonawarra wine region, Penola thrives on its deep connection to the land.
The town’s agricultural output is diverse, ranging from dairy, beef and lamb to grains, potatoes, forestry, hemp and wine.
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Penola also stands out for its commitment to agricultural education. Local businesses offer farm-to-table experiences including farm stays, winemaking, olive oil production and guided farm tours.
This focus on education extends to future generations, with a strong agricultural program at the local school and the nationally recognised children’s brand George the Farmer, created by a local author.
(L-R) Cross Border Commissioner South Australia Kelly-Anne Saffin, Wattle Range Council Mayor Des Noll, Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven
Maddocks said Penola won the Agricultural Town of the Year award because of the spirit of its community.
“There was an outstanding presentation of community engagement,” he said.
“Penola just pulled it together. The community came out in force. There was a clear connection when people told their story — it was sincere and genuine. The presentation of the community was just incredible, so it was pretty hard to go past.
“To have the AgTown celebrations as a part of the Winter Showdown too, it reinforces that when they told their story, they meant it. That here we are, reinforcing importance of action in this region.”
The town was awarded the 2024 Agricultural Town of the Year at InDaily’s Regional Showcase Awards in October last year at Beresford House in McLaren Flat.
Burra and Kimba were the two other finalists in the AgTown award, where in 2024, a record 73 unique towns were nominated from around the state with more than 3,600 public votes cast.
Scriven, who grew up in Penola, said the townspeople’s reaction to the win was ‘exuberant’ at the awards night. She said she was proud to be back in Penola to celebrate the win with the community.
Wattle Range Council mayor Des Noll said the win had been a boost for both morale and the local economy.
“It really brought a community together, both from the tourism and business perspective,” Noll said.
“Everybody’s still excited. I think it’ll be a lasting experience that people will reflect on for a number of years to come.”
Voting is open until Friday, 20 June; the top ten towns receiving the most votes will be announced in late June and will progress in the competition.
