More about country life: Becoming local

There are lots of things that surprise me about living in the country. I will always be a "blow-in" as we call it here in Australia, no matter what. They say it takes at least 20 years before the born and bred country folk might consider you an honorary local. This is not such a big deal most of the time and there have been some breakthroughs.
Being invited to the Pyree Ball - the local farming community's annual knees-up, is a definite sign that you are on the road to being accepted.
Sharing my farm-grown produce, like the huge blue pumpkins modeled by my daughter above, gives me street cred.
Does anyone have any tricks for winning over the locals? http://amigosparasiempre4.blogspot.co.uk