A Mannum farmer and former teacher has taken out a major national award for her work connecting Australians with agriculture.
Narelle Zanker, co-founder of Dairy Adventures, was named the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner at a gala dinner at Parliament House in Canberra overnight.
Ms Zanker was previously named the South Australian winner earlier this year, earning a $15,000 Westpac grant to support the development of Dairy Adventures and its educational programs. The national win comes with a further $20,000 grant.
Dairy Adventures operates on the Zanker family’s 4,000-acre mixed farm near Mannum, offering hands-on experiences that show visitors how milk is produced and where their food comes from. Since launching in 2024, the business has welcomed more than 1,200 visitors, ranging from preschoolers to retirees.
“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, and 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.”
The additional grant will allow Dairy Adventures to expand its educational reach through virtual classrooms, giving children around Australia the opportunity to learn about dairy farming even if they cannot visit the farm.
“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.”
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director Brianna Casey AM praised Ms Zanker’s combination of teaching experience, farming knowledge and entrepreneurship.
“Narelle Zanker 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,” Ms Casey said.
Northern Territory pastoral innovator Kelly Shotton was named national runner-up for Stationly, a digital platform helping cattle stations monitor water infrastructure, fuel and other operations across remote properties.
The other national finalists were Kristie Ivone, founder of Boas Language Academy; Amy Vickers, founder of Well Beyond Service; Angie Nisbet, co-founder of FarmHer Hands; Becky Dickinson, founder of Veterinary Support Services; and Angela Teale, founder of Starsite Australia.
The national award recognises women demonstrating leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship across rural and regional Australia.
Applications for the 2027 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award open today.
