The awards dinner is the culmination of the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference held on the Gold Coast and is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contribution of growers, innovators, leaders and researchers who go above and beyond to keep the industry moving forward.
The 2026 Australian Cotton Industry Award recipients are:
- Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year – Mitch and Mariah Brimblecombe and Linton and Melinda Brimblecombe, Moira Farming, Lockyer Valley QLD
- AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year – Rhys Herbert and Trish Carroll, Pastoral Properties (Cropping), Warra QLD
- CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year – Alexandria Doyle, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) Grower Services Representative, Emerald QLD
- Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year – Dr Katie Broughton, Research Scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Narrabri NSW
- John Deere Service to Industry recipients – Allan Williams, former Executive Director of Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Narrabri NSW; and the late Elizabeth Alexander from Emerald who was a champion of the Australian cotton industry through various roles for more than two decades
The Brimblecombe family has farmed at Forrest Hill in the Lockyer Valley for more than 100 years, with Moira Farming now operated by Mitch and Mariah Brimblecombe, alongside Mitch’s parents Linton and Melinda.
Growing cotton in rotation with vegetable crops, the family combines a long farming history with a focus on continuous improvement, people and workplace culture. Moira Farming is myBMP certified and employs nine full-time staff, expanding to up to 50 during vegetable harvest.
The Brimblecombes are actively involved in cotton and vegetable research and trials, working with organisations including Cotton Seed Distributors, CSIRO, the Queensland DPI and Griffith University, while also running their own on-farm trials to support innovation and better decision-making.
“We know that diversification is quite important to what we do. Looking to our history has helped us look into cotton for our future,” Mitch Brimblecombe said.
“Cotton has a really good fit in our business; it’s a less labour-intensive crop than the vegetables and it’s also a
globally traded commodity. That gives our business marketing risk diversity and is a different cash flow to the vegetables. Often summer gets a little bit quieter for our vegetable production, whereas that’s when the cotton ramps up and can keep our machinery going, our staff going and our land working for us.
“The positivity, the sustainability, it’s a wonderful industry to be a part of and it’s an honour to be named the 2026 Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year.”
The AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year Award was presented to Rhys Herbert and Trish Carroll from Pastoral Properties (Cropping), Warra Warra, on the Darling Downs, where their large-scale irrigated and dryland operation has increased cotton yields by around two bales per hectare over the past five years and improved fibre quality through better planting timing and careful variety selection. Their integrated weed management strategy includes camera spraying to improve accuracy and reduce chemical use.
Pastoral Properties has recently been myBMP certified and has a strong focus on workplace culture, capable staff and the flexibility to adapt to changing weather, water availability and seasonal pressures.
“Culture’s a really big thing; I think it’s really important from management down that you lead by example and have that positive attitude,” Trish said.
“We’re proud of what we do and proud of what we grow, and we’re very humbled to be named the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year,” Rhys added.
“Our goal for the future is to keep getting better at what we do and hopefully be able to wear the cotton that we’re growing.”
Alexandria Doyle, a Grower Services Representative with Louis Dreyfus Company based in Emerald, was named the CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year.
Alexandria is President of the Central Highlands Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association and has contributed to agronomy, grower engagement and community leadership. Her work focuses on strengthening cotton communities, encouraging the next generation and supporting growers through practical advocacy and connection.
Dr Katie Broughton was named Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year for her groundbreaking work on how cotton systems respond to climate variability and environmental stress, helping growers better manage seasonal risk in a changing climate.
Over 19 years, her field-based research has improved industry understanding of water-use efficiency, crop management and yield stability, with current work on novel plant growth regulators offering new tools for both irrigated and rainfed cotton systems.
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay congratulated the 2026 recipients, saying they highlighted the breadth of talent and commitment across the cotton supply chain.
“These awards recognise the best of the best in Australian cotton, and the Brimblecombe family and Rhys and Trish are outstanding examples of growers who are continually improving, investing in their people and producing high-quality, sustainable cotton,” Mr Kay said.
“Alexandria and Katie are also making valuable contributions to growers, regional communities and the long-term success of Australian cotton.
“Together, these recipients demonstrate the innovation, resilience and willingness to share knowledge that make Australia’s cotton industry so highly regarded. They should all be very proud of this recognition.”
