Finalists Revealed for 2025 Australian Cotton Industry Awards
Cotton Australia has officially announced the finalists for two of the industry's most prestigious accolades: the 2025 Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year and the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year. The winners will be revealed during the Cotton Collective Awards Dinner, scheduled for August 6 in Toowoomba.
This year’s five standout finalists, selected from regions stretching from Dalby in Queensland to Spring Ridge in New South Wales, have demonstrated exceptional performance in cotton production and innovative farming practices. Each has been nominated either by local Cotton Grower Associations or by fellow growers impressed with their dedication and results.
The finalists for 2025 are:
- Tyson Armitage, Wamara Farming Trust, Cecil Plains, QLD
- Brownhill Family, Merrilong Agricultural Company, Spring Ridge, NSW
- Tom and Julie Eather, Bellevue Pastoral Company, Narrabri, NSW
- Thomas Popp, ‘Springfield’, RMI Ltd, Kurumbal, QLD
- Matt Richards, RDS Farming, Nobby, QLD
Each finalist is in the running for both the Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year and the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year awards, with one recipient to be selected in each category. Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay emphasized the significance of these honors, noting that they spotlight excellence in areas such as sustainability, soil health, water management, community engagement, and innovation.
He also highlighted the diversity among the nominees: from growers with just a few seasons of experience to fifth-generation farming families with over three decades of cotton production. The scale of operations also varies, with employee numbers ranging from two to over sixty.
All nominees were selected following recognition at the regional level or through peer recommendations. Farms represented in this year’s awards include a mix of rain-fed and fully irrigated operations, utilizing different irrigation strategies and technologies.
To assist with the judging process, previous award recipients Scott Balsillie (2024 Bayer Grower of the Year) and Steve McVeigh (2024 AgriRisk High Achiever) visited each finalist’s farm, accompanied by award sponsors. Balsillie praised this year’s contenders, stating that every nominee demonstrated impressive innovation and commitment deserving of recognition.
In addition to the two top grower awards, the CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year, Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year, and IPF Service to Industry awards will also be announced during the Awards Dinner. Tickets for the Cotton Collective and the Awards Dinner will be available soon.