Farmer Ambassadors build skills, confidence and connections in Melbourne
Fourteen passionate dairy farmers from across Australia came together in Melbourne from 27–29 May for the 2026 Farmer Ambassador Skills Forum, an immersive three-day experience designed to help farmers confidently share their stories and promote the Australian dairy industry.
The annual Skills Forum is a cornerstone of Dairy Australia's Farmer Ambassador Program, equipping participants with practical communication skills, industry knowledge and the confidence to engage with consumers, media and their local communities.
This year's forum featured an impressive line-up of facilitators, with sessions delivered by Deanna Lush of Ag Communicators on communicating through shared values, industry veteran Esther Price on presentation skills, and Oli Le Lievre, founder of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, who challenged participants to embrace and share their personal stories from farmgate to public conversation through his engaging session, Owning Your Story.
Farmers also participated in workshops focused on leadership, personality profiling, social media, media engagement and effective industry promotion, providing a toolkit of skills they can take back to their businesses and communities.
Beyond the formal training, the forum created valuable opportunities for participants to connect with like-minded dairy farmers from across the country, building relationships that will continue.
West Victorian dairy farmer Will Renyard described the experience as both rewarding and inspiring.
"Being part of this year's ambassador program was such a great experience and I got so much out of it," Will said.
"It was a really good group and I think we will all stay in contact."
The Farmer Ambassador Program recognises that farmers are among the most trusted voices in agriculture. By helping participants develop the skills and confidence to share authentic stories about life on farm, the program is creating a growing network of industry champions who are helping bridge the gap between producers and consumers.
Now in its seventh year, the program has supported more than 120 dairy farmers to become effective advocates and promoters of the industry. Many alumni have gone on to represent dairy at community events, conferences, in the media, at schools, online and through industry leadership opportunities.
As consumer interest in food production continues to grow, the role of farmers in shaping conversations about dairy has never been more important.
The 2026 ambassadors returned home with new skills, fresh perspectives, lasting connections and a renewed passion for promoting an industry they are proud to be part of.
If you or someone you know is passionate about sharing positive stories about Australian dairy, please send through expressions of interest for future Farmer Ambassador programs to Jess at jess.phillips@dairyaustralia.com.au