Mannum dairy farmer is Australia’s rural woman of the year
Narelle Zanker has brought home a rare accolade from an Agrifutures awards ceremony in Canberra.
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A Mannum teacher-turned-farmer has spent the past two years investing in the future of Australian agriculture.
Now, a big win means her own future suddenly looks brighter, too.
Narelle Zanker was named Agrifutures Rural Woman of the Year at a ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday night, earning $20,000 for her agri-tourism business and a reputation as a leading light in her industry.
After four years as a school teacher, she and her husband Joel opened Dairy Adventures in 2024, offering children a chance to visit their farm, have fun and learn about where the dairy products on our supermarket shelves come from.
Since then, the couple have welcomed around 2500 visitors through their farm gates, including school and community groups, families, people living with disability and aged care home residents; and they have helped establish two school-based agriculture programs.
“For me, this has always been about reconnecting people with the land,” Ms Zanker said.
“So many people have become disconnected from where their food comes from ... once you get them out on the farm and show them what actually goes into producing milk, you can see the light bulb go off.
“This grant means we can take that further, running virtual classrooms so kids all over Australia can have that same opportunity to learn about dairy farming and where their food comes from, even if they can’t make it out to the farm in Mannum.”
She hoped to invest her winnings – and another $15,000 she had earned as South Australia’s state award winner – into enhancing the visitor experience at the farm, improving accessibility, developing more educational resources in partnership with Dairy Australia, and producing a children’s book.
Not bad for a woman who, only a couple of years ago, started with little more than a big idea.
“It is hard to put into words what this journey has meant to me,” she said in a social media post.
“I often think about the young, shy and reserved girl who grew up on a dairy farm and was absolutely terrified of public speaking.
“She never would have imagined that one day she would be sharing her story, speaking about something she loves so deeply, and representing her family, her community and the dairy industry on a national stage.
“Dairy Adventures started with a dream to merge my two loves: farming and educating.
“It has grown into something that means more to me than I can explain, and to have that vision recognised in this way is incredibly special.”
‘She’s young, smart and passionate’
Agrifutures Australia managing director Brianna Casey AM said Ms Zanker embodied everything the rural women’s award was about: “She’s young, smart and passionate, and she’s built a genuinely commercial business off the back of her experience as a teacher and her life on the farm, all while reconnecting everyday Australians with where their food actually comes from.”
Federal MP Tony Pasin, who was at the awards gala in Canberra, congratulated Ms Zanker for her innovation, leadership, and contributions to agriculture and the region: “Barker is incredibly proud of you.”
State Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven described Ms Zanker as an outstanding advocate for the dairy industry, and the award as much-deserved.
“Through Dairy Adventures, Narelle is helping people to better understand where their food comes from while also bridging the gap between cities and regional communities,” she said.
“By combining her skills as an educator with her passion for farming, Narelle is inspiring the next generation and showcasing the vital role that dairy farming, and agriculture more broadly, plays in our daily lives.”
Ms Zanker had previously been named SA’s young dairy farmer of the year, and Dairy Adventures earned a silver medal in the best new business category at the 2025 SA Tourism Awards.
Another Mannum local, Kelly Johnson, was last year’s rural woman of the year in SA.
- Meet Narelle Zanker: Murray Bridge News will host a breakfast event with Narelle and Joel Zanker at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge on October 28; get your tickets at www.trybooking.com.
