The Macintyre Valley Cotton Annual Awards were held last Friday at Gunsynd Park, bringing together cotton growers and industry members to celebrate the achievements of the 2022/23 cotton season. Hosted by the MacIntyre Valley Cotton Field Day Committee, the event recognised excellence in various categories related to cotton farming and industry contributions.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the major award winners. From RMI’s “Fairfield” farm, Steve Perry was honoured with the Farm of the Year award, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the industry. Corish Farms’ “Yattlewondi” emerged as the winner in the Irrigated Crop of the Year category, while the Dryland Crop of the Year was awarded to “Getta Getta” Coulton Farming.
Water conservation and efficiency are critical in cotton farming, and the Water Use Efficiency Award was bestowed upon Corish Farms once again, this time for their efforts at “Mundine.” Elsie Hudson, representing CRDC, was recognised as the Young Achiever Award recipient, acknowledging her exceptional work and dedication in the field.
Innovation comes hand in hand with progress, and Shane & Mandy McGregor of McGregor Diesel were honoured with the Innovation Award for their contributions to the industry. The prestigious Patricia Coulton Memorial Award, commemorating the invaluable contributions to the industry, was presented to Mike Dillon of McGregor Gourlay.
David Kelly, from Macintyre Independent Agronomists, was honoured with the service to the Industry Award for his long-standing commitment and exceptional service to the cotton industry.
The Macintyre Valley Cotton Annual Awards were only possible with the support of various sponsors. Total Ag was the major sponsor of the night, while companies such as Louis Dreyfus Company, Cotton Seed Distributors, Queensland Cotton, Syngenta, Nufarm, Goanna Ag, Air Ag, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Namoi Cotton, Cotton Growers’ Services, RDO Equipment, Coulton Family, and Cotton Growers’ Association generously sponsored individual awards.
Over $2,500 was raised during the evening, with all proceeds going directly to the Goondiwindi High School Bursary. The Macintyre Valley Cotton Field Day Committee is a proud and long-standing supporter of this bursary, which aims to provide educational opportunities for local students.
The Macintyre Valley Cotton Annual Awards not only recognised the achievements of individuals and farms but also served as a reminder of the dedication, innovation, and hard work that goes into sustaining a thriving cotton industry in the region.
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