There will not be a better event to attend with the opportunity to ask questions about cotton growing and farm management by highly experienced speakers
As on-farm field days gather pace, an important event for current cotton growers and those interested in entering the industry is the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day.
The event will be hosted by the current Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year, Merrilong Agricultural Company, at their Spring Ridge property just south of Gunnedah NSW on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
The day will focus on how resilience, teamwork and communication support decision-making in a large, family-run farming business. Registration to attend the event is now open here.
The Field Day will be hosted by the Merrilong Agricultural Company with brothers Hugh and Jock Brownhill backed by their cousins Oscar and Archie Brownhill.
Together, under the Merrilong Agricultural Company banner, the Brownhill family manages a total of 10,700ha, comprising 1,850ha of irrigation, 6,750ha of dryland farming and 2,100ha of grazing country on the Liverpool Plains in north-west New South Wales.
The Field Day will give attendees the opportunity to see how the Brownhill family blends legacy and teamwork to achieve success across generations.
The day will also include a farm tour, guest speakers and a panel session featuring the Brownhill family, members of their advisory board, and key consultants to the business.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about farm management structures, team leadership, communication, and long-term business and succession planning.
Jock Brownhill explained how teamwork and shared decision-making are central to how the 2025 Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year business operates.
“We work closely together as a team and divide responsibilities so we can collaboratively make decisions that ensure the farm’s success in the long term, Jock continued.
“Implementing an advisory board structure was a game-changer for Merrilong Agricultural Company and a key initiative we have brought through the business transition. This has allowed us to keep our focus on what’s happening on the farm day-to-day while also planning for the future,” Jock added.
Visitors will also have the chance to learn about the property’s history, from when Gordon Brownhill (Snr), his wife Mary, their son David and his wife Julia first purchased “Merrilong” in 1959, through to how that heritage continues to shape the farm today.
These insights will be reinforced during the farm tour, offering a practical view of the business operations and strategy.
Hugh Brownhill said Merrilong Agricultural Company’s approach is built on teamwork and shared knowledge.
“We have a strong team of 13, and their experience and skill are central to our success.
“We work closely as a team and communicate regularly to make sure we are aligned to achieve our shared goals,” Hugh added.
The event program will also provide insights and perspectives from the 2025 Agririsk High Achievers Tyson and Rosie Armitage, and from Boggabri grower and Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Service to the Cotton Industry Award recipient Andrew Watson.
These will be complemented by guest speakers Tim Curtis and Ian Prior from Mettle Global, providing additional perspectives on leadership, teamwork and building resilience.
Registrations for the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day are now open on this link.
The event will give attendees a chance to hear directly from the family and advisers behind a very successful Cotton industry operation.
2025 Australian Cotton Grower Award Recipients:
- Bayer Cotton Growers of the year, Merrilong Agricultural Company, Spring Ridge NSW
- AgriRisk High Achiever Award, Tyson and Rosie Armitage, Cecil Plains, Qld
- Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Service to the Cotton Industry Award, Andrew Watson, Boggabri, NSW
- CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award, Grace Griffiths, Goondiwindi, Qld
- Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Award is Dr Murray Sharman, Department of Primary Industries, Qld
