Dairy farmer Narelle Zanker recognised nationally for bringing Australians closer to agriculture

Narelle, from Mannum in South Australia, was recognised for helping bridge the gap between urban and regional Australia through Dairy Adventures, the agritourism venture she co-founded with her family on their 4,000-acre dairy farm.

After being named the 2026 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award winner in May, Narelle progressed to the national finals, where her commitment to agricultural education, community connection and authentic farmer storytelling was recognised on the national stage at last night’s gala dinner.

In accepting the award, Narelle said that in creating Dairy Adventures, she wanted to find a way to merge her two passions, agriculture and teaching.
“Growing up on a dairy farm, agriculture has always been a huge part of who I am, but another passion of mine has always been education.”

A former teacher, Narelle returned to the family farm to combine education and agriculture. In 2024, she launched Dairy Adventures, welcoming school groups, families and community organisations for hands-on experiences that bring dairy farming to life. In its first year, the venture welcomed more than 1,000 visitors and won a Silver Medal at the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards.

Through her award-winning project, Narelle plans to work with Dairy Australia to expand agricultural education, including virtual classroom experiences that connect students with life on a working dairy farm. The initiative aims to help young Australians build knowledge of dairy farming, animal care, food safety and sustainable production.

“Through our partnership with Dairy Australia, we’re taking our farm into classrooms, connecting with hundreds of students right across Australia,” said Narelle.

“Whether a child is milking a cow on our farm, or sitting in a classroom thousands of kilometres away, I want them to have the opportunity to connect with agriculture and understand where their food comes from.”

“This award gives me the platform to take that vision even further.”

As a Dairy Australia Farmer Ambassador, Narelle is part of a network of farmers helping share authentic stories about modern dairy farming and build stronger connections between farmers and the communities they serve. 

Narelle was joined in Canberra by eight fellow Farmer Ambassadors, who travelled to support her, represent the dairy industry, and connect with agricultural leaders from across Australia.
Dairy Australia Head of Marketing Glenys Zucco congratulated Narelle and said her achievement showed the power of farmer-led education and storytelling. 

“Narelle is a passionate advocate for dairy farming and has an incredible ability to connect people with agriculture through education and storytelling,” Glenys said.

“Through Dairy Adventures, she is helping Australians gain a greater appreciation for the people, animals and communities behind milk production, while creating meaningful connections between farmers and consumers.”

“This recognition is a wonderful achievement for Narelle, her family and the broader dairy industry. We are incredibly proud to see a dairy farmer recognised among Australia's leading rural and regional women.”