Mannum dairy farmer Narelle Zanker was named AgriFutures’ Rural Women’s Award national winner for 2026.
It has been a whirlwind year for Mannum dairy farmer Narelle Zanker after she was recently named AgriFutures’ Rural Women’s Award national winner.
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While there have been dairy farmer finalists over the years, she is the first ever dairy farmer to take out the top gong.
And she couldn’t be more excited.
Narelle grew up on the family farm at Mannum, and while she did go away and study teaching, the pull of the farm was too much and rather than follow a career in education, she decided a dairy farming path was more for her.
But that didn’t mean Narelle gave up on her teaching all together.
Narelle and her husband Joel have worked hard to establish Dairy Adventures over the last two years.
A couple of years ago, along with the help of her parents Geoff and Heather Simons and husband Joel, Narelle decided to establish Dairy Adventures – a fun, interactive and educational experience for visitors to the farm.
The business has steadily grown and ultimately has enabled Narelle to share her two loves – farming and teaching.
It has also provided a platform to educate visitors not just about her own farm, but the dairy industry in general.
Narelle has been able to bridge the gap between town and country and advocate for the broader Australian dairy industry.
“To be able to advocate for the industry, inform people about what we do and help change mindsets is an amazing and rewarding opportunity,” Narelle said.
Initially, Narelle was approached to nominate for the state award and after winning that back in May, she wasn’t expecting to take out the next step.
The award comes with a $20,000 Westpac bursary which will be used to establish a tractor and trailer ride for greater accessibility and inclusivity for visitors and extra video resources for schools.
The $15,000 Westpac bursary she won from the state title is being used to develop a dedicated outdoor area with seating and activity stations.
She will also continue to work on her virtual classroom to help broaden education opportunities.
Narelle is not sure what opportunities the award will bring for her own personal growth, but she will embrace those too when they come along.
“Opportunities come along and you just have to take them when they are there,” she said.
“If I was fixated on achieving a specific goal, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I just urge everyone to remain open minded about any opportunity that comes your way.”
And that also includes applying for the award in the first place.
“Even if you don’t make it to be a state finalist, you will meet so many great people along the way.”
AgriFutures’ managing director Brianna Casey praised Narelle for the role she’s played in bridging the gap between the city and country.
“Narelle embodies exactly what this award is 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,” Brianna said.
South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association is also proud of Narelle’s achievements.
SADA CEO Andrew Curtis said Narelle was an outstanding advocate for dairy farming, agriculture and regional communities.
“To see her recognised as Australia’s Rural Woman of the Year is an incredible achievement, and one that the entire South Australian dairy industry can be proud of,” he said.
“Through Dairy Adventures, Narelle is helping consumers better understand where their food comes from and building meaningful connections between farmers and the community.
“Her passion for education and her ability to tell the story of dairy is making a real difference.
“This award shines a national spotlight on the innovation, leadership and contribution of women in agriculture, and Narelle is a fantastic example of that.”
SADA president Robert Brokenshire also congratulated Narelle on the national recognition.
“Narelle has done an incredible job representing South Australian dairy farmers on the national stage,” he said.
"She is passionate about our industry and passionate about sharing its story, and this award is recognition of the impact she is having.”
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