Two of South Australia’s three finalists in the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award are from Mannum.
Tourism leader Kelly Kuhn from Juggle House Experiences and River Murray Dark Sky Tours, and dairy farmer Narelle Zanker from Dairy Adventures, have both been recognised for their leadership, innovation and positive impact on regional communities.
Hayley Hancock from McLaren Vale, co-founder of Insurable, has also been named as a finalist. Her business provides an alternative insurance model for farms of all sizes, designed to deliver faster financial support following unpredictable natural events and reduce the emotional and economic toll on farming families.
The three will compete for a $15,000 dollar Westpac grant, with the state winner to be announced on the 5th of May. The South Australian recipient will then represent the state at the national AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award gala dinner and announcement in Canberra in September, where the national winner receives a further $20,000 dollar grant.
Zanker co-founded Dairy Adventures on her family farm, delivering interactive education programs designed to reconnect consumers with agriculture and food production. With a background in teaching and experience establishing school-based agriculture programs, she focuses on bridging the gap between city and country through hands-on farm experiences.
Kuhn has built two environmentally conscious tourism ventures near Mannum, combining science education with regional storytelling. Through Juggle House Experiences and River Murray Dark Sky Tours, she connects visitors with the natural environment while promoting sustainable tourism and supporting the local economy.
Their success continues a strong run for the Murraylands town as last year’s winner was Kelly Johnson from Woodlane Pantry in Mannum who took out the state title.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is supported in South Australia by PIRSA and celebrates women driving innovation, resilience and growth across rural and regional industries
