From the classroom to the cowshed: SA's Young Farmer of the Year giving guests a glimpse into life as a dairy farmer

South Australian dairy farmer and former teacher Narelle Zanker - alongside her husband Joel - is helping people experience firsthand the joys of dairy farming - one tour, calf and conversation at a time.

Out at her parent's dairy farm at Mannum - which the couple help run - Narelle and Joel operate their business Dairy Adventures - a hands-on agritourism experience aimed at connecting people with the dairy industry.

Visitors to the farm get to meet the cows, feed calves, and learn about life on the land through interactive and engaging tours.

Speaking with The Country Viewpoint on FlowFM, Narelle said her and Joel launched the business about 12 months ago, roughly two years after she returned to working at the farm full-time after a four-year stint in teaching.

"Growing up on the farm I was always passionate about the cows but also very passionate about wanting to become a school teacher," she said.

"During my time in the classroom though, I found that I was teaching so many different subjects that I wasn't necessarily the most passionate or confident about. The thing I loved the most was whenever I was teaching Ag and got to bring the kids out to the farm and give them that hands-on experience, so it got me thinking about how I could merge those things into one and the idea of an agritourism business was what came to mind. So I thought, why not give it a go and see what happens?"

Since launching Dairy Adventures, Narelle said the response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Visitors come from all walks of life — from local school groups to interstate families and senior tours — eager for an authentic experience.

“The best part is seeing people leave saying, ‘Wow, what an experience,’” Narelle said.

“It makes me excited to keep going and keep sharing what farming is really like.”

She said the venture has also brought herself and her family a positive source of distraction during challenging times.

“It’s quite tough in the industry at the moment, but bringing people onto the farm and explaining what we’re going through gives them the bigger picture,” she said. “It’s only a season — it will break eventually.”

Narelle’s dedication to bridging the gap between city and country was recognised recently when she was named Young Farmer of the Year at the 2025 South Australian Dairy Awards.

“It was a bit surreal,” the 29-year-old said. “There were 360 people in the room and they chose me. I see it as a great opportunity to share Dairy Adventures far and wide and educate people on a broader scale.”

For those looking to experience the farm for themselves, Dairy Adventures can be booked via dairyadventures.com.au