SA celebrates best farmers

Special guests included government ministers Clare Scriven and Nicola Centofanti, Danielle Watts from Foodland and Paul Roderick from Dairy Australia.

SA Dairyfarmers Association president Rob Brokenshire said the one constant that came across from the judging panel was the quality of nominations for each award.

“SADA is a proud sponsor of tonight’s dinner and is pleased to be a sponsor of three of tonight’s award categories, and recognises how each of these areas supports excellence in the South Australian dairy industry,” Rob said.

“In some ways it is disappointing to have to separate one winner from such a field, but that was the job at hand.”

Narelle Zanker from Mannum was announced Young Farmer of the Year — an award recognising passion, dedication, innovation and leadership.

Narelle works alongside her husband and parents and is a skilled farmer, but what sets her apart is the way she has turned her passion for education into something remarkable.

With a background as an agriculture teacher, Narelle has founded Dairy Adventures, an agritourism initiative bringing school groups, aged care residents and corporate visitors onto the farm.

Her aim is to connect people with where their food comes from and to create meaningful, safe and positive experiences.

Narelle worked closely with industry and SADA to ensure the on-farm experience is safe and biosecure, and in the process has set the gold standard for how agritourism and dairy can work hand-in-hand.

Her award citation says Narelle brings thoughtfulness, integrity and care to everything she does with her work, reflecting a strong respect for the land, animal welfare, people and for the future of dairy farming.

Best Relationship with a Processor was awarded to Mark Chandler of Mulgundawa Dairy, for recognition of an enduring and evolving relationship with Udder Delights spanning nearly two decades.

The partnership has grown from supplying goat milk to a full supply of cow’s milk building on quality, trust and shared success.

His award citation says Mark is loyal, transparent and always focused on the long game — for his family, his farm and his processor.

“Whether navigating the shift from organic to conventional supply, taking on the challenge of self-delivery, or collaborating on exciting new product launches, Mark and his team have never lost sight of the bigger picture.

“And while there have been challenges, the focus has always been on what can be controlled — not the weather, not the market — but the relationship, the milk, and the values shared.”

Reece Donhardt from Nangkita Dairies was awarded Innovative Farmer of the Year.

Working on a family-run farm of 750 cows, he has embraced technology in a way that’s transforming how dairying looks for his business, including the installation of 14 Lely robots.

This has enabled the farm to access previously underutilised land for pasture — even swampy areas once inaccessible by tractor. What was once considered too hard, Reece now calls opportunity.

Reece has invested in advanced agricultural drone technology, allowing drones to manage weed control, including difficult blackberry infestations on steep slopes allowing him to improve land as he goes.

Calf rearing is also automated with precision feeders, and decision-making across the business is data-driven, forward-thinking and environmentally conscious.

His award citation says Reece meets challenges head-on with strategic action, continuous learning and a deep commitment to sustainability by investing in technology and the future.

While it was a night of celebration, Rob Brokenshire also touched on some of the challenges facing the industry including drought and elevated input costs, while pointing out the rising value of dairy products.

“SADA is committed to working with all parts of the dairy supply chain in pursuit of the goal of South Australia advancing as the premier dairy producing provenance in the world,” he said.

“The South Australian Dairy Industry Action Plan 2024 – 2029 is key evidence of that commitment.”