Willunga, McLaren Vale, Mount Compass, Langhorne Creek and Strathalbyn have all been nominated for the 2022 South Australian Agricultural Town of the Year competition

Voting is now open until Monday 25 July to select the top five towns in the competition.

The finalists will then go through an independent judging process to determine the winner.

Last year’s winner was the Eyre Peninsula town of Kimba

The award highlights the importance of developing and maintaining a strong and vibrant agriculture sector in South Australia, by recognising towns excelling in agricultural practices and the flow on effect this has on communities.

The competition webpage provides the following information for each town:

Langhorne Creek

Langhorne Creek champions sustainable wine growing practices through their Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Program. Wine production and viticulture in the region has created opportunities for both investment and development, with more than $4 million in tourism infrastructure built in the past two years. Langhorne Creek’s world-first marketing program, Project 5255, has produced three marketplace labelled wines. The town has served a vital role in increasing domestic tourism and expenditure as one of Australia’s oldest wine regions.

McLaren Vale

The McLaren Vale wine region is recognised as one of the premier wine producing regions in Australia and has strong brand recognition internationally. The area’s clean and green credentials are recognised around the world and it has received international acclaim for its vine and wine sustainability practices. McLaren Vale demonstrates agricultural best practice and is constantly striving to improve these already high standards. In conjunction with the wine industry, Biodiversity McLaren Vale actively seeks to enhance, protect and reinvigorate the area’s spectacular biodiversity.

Mount Compass

Mt Compass is an authentic rural hub surrounded by rolling hills, meandering country roads and agricultural farm land. The region comprises of agriculture and horticulture enterprises in the district include dairy-farming, berry-growing, aquaculture, deer-farming, flower-growing, vegetable production, animal production and viticulture. Dedicated & innovative farmers provide research & development opportunities for lucrative market gardens providing healthy and nourishing food. The region utilises new digital technology, rotational crops and soil integrity and regularly participates in new on-farm trials to assist with crop and horticulture production.

Strathalbyn

Strathalbyn functions as a service and social centre for the Fleurieu region. Rural manufacturing and equipment sales are essential to the town, as well as wine and table grapes, livestock, meat, wool, wine, and vegetables.

Willunga

Made world-famous by the Tour Down Under, for the rest of the year the town supports the surrounding wine and fruit growing region. The thriving local market has become a SA staple, selling organic produce. A town that supports wellbeing, tourism and the arts.