Former SA teacher Narelle Zanker crowned Rural Woman of the Year

South Australian dairy farmer Narelle Zanker has been crowned Australia's AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year at Canberra's Parliament House.

Ms Zanker, a former teacher with a passion for farming, was recognised for her work with Dairy Adventures, a fun and educational experience for families and school groups to learn about where their food comes from.

Growing up on the family dairy farm on the banks of the Murray River near Mannum, just over an hour's drive east of Adelaide, Ms Zanker always wanted to be a teacher.

But four years into her new career, she experienced a "light-bulb moment" when she realised she could merge her love for teaching with her love for farming.

"[Dairy Adventures] is a fun, educational, interactive experience for families and school groups to come onto the farm and bottle-feed the calves, milk the cows, tour the farm and learn about where their food comes from, from paddock to plate," Ms Zanker said.

Ms Zanker said Dairy Adventures addressed a massive gap between farmer and consumer.

"People don't know where their food comes from, they don't know where milk comes from, they think it comes from the fridge in their house or from the shops," she said.

The award recognises women who are shaping the future of rural and regional Australia through innovation, enterprise and leadership.

As the winner, Ms Zanker will receive a $20,000 grant to develop Dairy Adventures further and take it nationwide through virtual classrooms.

"Having a love for education and farming is what makes it work," she said.

The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Runner-Up was Northern Territory pilot and innovator Kelly Shotton, founder of Stationly, a digital platform that helps remote stations monitor tanks, bores and other water infrastructure across vast properties.