The Weekly Times Coles 2024 Farmer of the Year awards: finalists announced
Eighteen farmers from across Australia have been short-listed in the nation’s premier Farmer of the Year awards, honouring agricultural excellence. Discover who they are.
A shortlist of farmers in the running for Australia’s most prestigious agriculture awards has been unveiled.
Producers from Queensland, NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania have been selected as finalists in The Weekly Times Coles 2024 Farmer of the Year awards.
The awards, in their 13th year, recognise the best in beef, cropping, dairy, horticulture and sheep farming, as well as innovation.
The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at the MCG in Melbourne on Friday, February 21.
BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
ALLEN FAMILY,
BOOROOK
MORTLAKE, VICTORIA
The Allen family has successfully integrated soil carbon initiatives into their livestock enterprise, positioning themselves as leaders in carbon-neutral livestock production.
By supplying high-quality beef to Coles’ Carbon Neutral brand, they have meticulously measured their carbon footprint while using rotational grazing, compost applications, and rest periods to enhance soil carbon and sustainability.
Managing 1000 breeding cows and 1000 trade cattle with minimal labour, they are proving that profitability and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand, with future opportunities to sell carbon credits further strengthening their business model.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ALLEN FAMILY
HAMMOND FAMILY
ROBBINS ISLAND WAGYU
MONTAGU, TASMANIA
The Hammond family operates a globally renowned Wagyu enterprise spanning 10,000 hectares producing some of the most sought-after high-marbled beef in the world.
Their innovative breeding and genetics program, including a Poll Wagyu initiative that enhances animal welfare without compromising carcass quality, has driven premium sales of up to $250 per kilogram.
Combining tradition with cutting-edge technology, they employ rigorous carcass analysis, rotational grazing, and sustainability-focused infrastructure improvements, while their iconic “saltwater muster” symbolises their deep respect for both heritage and environmental stewardship.
READ MORE ABOUT THE HAMMOND FAMILY
McFARLANE FAMILY
WELLINGTON LODGE
TAILEM BEND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The McFarlane family runs one of South Australia’s oldest Angus herds across 7600 hectares, combining 600 breeding cows with an 800-head annual cattle trading system.
A turning point in 2010 led them to shift away from high-input farming, discontinuing cropping and sheep while implementing rotational grazing to improve perennial grasses, biodiversity, and soil health.
By integrating breeding and trading, they have developed a flexible, efficient, and profitable system that allows them to rapidly adapt to seasonal conditions, maintaining long-term business sustainability with minimal inputs.
READ MORE ABOUT THE McFARLANE FAMILY
CROPPING FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
BELLATO FAMILY
GREENLINE FARMING
COLEAMBALLY, NEW SOUTH WALES
The Bellato family operates an 800-hectare high-efficiency cropping enterprise, where they maximise irrigation through a crop-on-crop strategy.
By immediately following summer crops like cotton and maize with winter crops such as wheat, they ensure optimal soil moisture utilisation, yielding industry-leading results, including 15-16 bales of cotton and 16 tonnes of maize per hectare.
Their commitment extends beyond farming, with conservation efforts through the Black Falcon Project and a community-driven business, Muddy Duck Tapas and Events, showcasing how agriculture can successfully intertwine with environmental stewardship and regional engagement.
READ MORE ABOUT THE BELLATO FAMILY
SWIFT AND WATSON FAMILIES
KEBBY AND WATSON
PARKES, NEW SOUTH WALES
The Swift and Watson families run a highly adaptive and technologically advanced 4000-hectare cropping operation, where they prioritise water-use efficiency and soil health.
Embracing dryland summer cropping in a traditionally winter-focused region, they were among the first to successfully grow high-yielding sorghum further south, leveraging precision agriculture tools like moisture probes, controlled traffic systems, and biosolids to enhance productivity.
Their corporate business structure ensures clear roles, supports skilled staff retention, and strengthens both farm resilience and the local economy, proving that profitability and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
READ MORE ABOUT THE SWIFT AND WATSON FAMILIES
DUNCAN YOUNG
BEVERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Duncan Young runs a highly efficient 6000-hectare cropping enterprise that thrives on precision, sustainability, and long-term soil health management.
By integrating diverse crops such as faba beans, lupins, and field peas, alongside break crops and green manure, he actively suppresses soil-borne diseases, improves nitrogen levels, and enhances organic matter.
His commitment to environmental stewardship extends to voluntary chemical restrictions near the Avon River and a self-built desalination plant, ensuring water quality and boosting chemical efficiency, all while investing in machinery and strategies that enhance productivity and land resilience for future generations.
DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
ALTMANN FAMILY
DAKARA FARMS
MURRAY BRIDGE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Altmann family operates a high-performance, zero-grazing dairy farm producing up to 6.2 million litres of milk annually from 500 cows.
Their system is meticulously structured, using a total mixed ration diet and climate-controlled barns to maximise production efficiency, animal health, and year-round milk consistency.
With genomic testing to identify top-performing cows and a commitment to precision management, their focus on structure and control ensures predictable output, healthier cattle, and long-term business sustainability.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ALTMANN FAMILY
KYDD FAMILY
FINLEY, NEW SOUTH WALES
The Kydd family has transformed their dairy farm from a small sharefarming operation into a large-scale enterprise, milking nearly 2000 cows twice daily across 2023 hectares.
Through strategic investment in rotary dairies, a three-way crossbreeding system, and pasture-based irrigation from the Murray system, they have optimised herd fertility, longevity, and milk production, yielding 500kg of milk solids per cow each year.
Their adaptable approach to business decisions, including feed management and market-driven strategies, ensures ongoing growth and profitability in an ever-changing agricultural landscape.
READ MORE ABOUT THE KYDD FAMILY
WALKER FAMILY
MT SCHANK, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Walker family, originally from New Zealand, has embraced sharefarming, successfully managing an 800-cow dairy across 400 hectares while steadily building equity toward farm ownership.
By leveraging rotational grazing, irrigated bore water, and a cost-efficient pasture-based system, they achieve high milk solid yields of 600kg per cow at significantly lower-than-average production costs.
Advocates for the sharefarming model, the Walkers emphasise the importance of aligned values and partnerships in securing long-term success while demonstrating how young farmers can enter and thrive in the dairy industry.
READ MORE ABOUT THE WALKER FAMILY
HORTICULTURE FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
FOWLES FAMILY
FOWLES WINE
AVENEL, VICTORIA
The Fowles family produces award-winning wines by harnessing the unique biodiversity of the Strathbogie Ranges and prioritising regenerative farming practices.
Their 120-hectare vineyard, located at high elevation, benefits from natural pest control through insect-eating bats, reducing chemical use and improving vine health.
With a focus on sustainability, including solar energy, water efficiencies, and food waste reuse, the family is setting a benchmark in responsible viticulture while producing 100,000 dozen bottles of premium wine annually.
READ MORE ABOUT THE FOWLES FAMILY
MUSOLINO FAMILY
T MUSO & CO
VIRGINIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Musolino family runs a multi-generational horticulture business that has expanded from a modest two-hectare farm in the 1950s to more than 600 hectares today.
Led by Chris Musolino, the farm now produces millions of vegetable seedlings each year and supplies major supermarkets through a sustainable and efficient operation.
Their success is built on crop rotation, solar-powered irrigation, biodegradable packaging, and a strong workplace culture that fosters collaboration and morale among employees.
READ MORE ABOUT THE MUSOLINO FAMILY
ZEKE ZALSMAN
ZALDEESH FARMS
OLDBURY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Zeke Zalsman and team produce 400 tonnes of capsicums annually across seven hi-tech greenhouses, alongside pomegranates, basil, and ginger.
Since returning from a commercial banking career, Zeke has introduced innovative heat pump technology that has cut greenhouse heating costs by 75 per cent, improving both efficiency and sustainability.
His commitment to industry advancement extends beyond the farm, as he was named 2024 Young Grower of the Year and is developing a platform connecting farmers directly with consumers to ensure fair returns and greater community engagement.
READ MORE ABOUT ZEKE ZALSMAN
INNOVATIVE FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
BURNHAM FAMILY
BONNIE DOONE BEEF
MONTO, QUEENSLAND
The Burnham family focus on regenerative farming and organic grass-fed beef production across their 8094-hectare property.
Transitioning to organic certification in 2016, they eliminated chemical inputs, implemented time-controlled grazing, and developed a composite cattle breed to enhance productivity and sustainability, leading to their recognition as Australia’s largest holder of carbon credits, having sequestered more than 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.
Their vertically integrated business, which includes direct-to-consumer beef sales and eco-tourism, ensures profitability while prioritising environmental stewardship, with the next generation actively involved through a unique “Youth Board of Directors.”
READ MORE ABOUT THE BURNHAM FAMILY
FRANCIS FAMILY
ESPERANCE BAY ORCHARDS
HUON VALLEY, TASMANIA
The Francis family has been growing apples and pears for five generations, leading the industry with cutting-edge artificial intelligence in fruit grading.
Managing 250,000 to 300,000 trees across 80 hectares, they became the world’s first organic apple pack-house to use self-learning AI to assess internal fruit quality, reducing waste, improving efficiency, and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Committed to sustainable farming, they are transitioning to off-grid solar and battery storage while diversifying their orchard with trellis-grown varieties that enhance cost efficiency and commercial viability.
READ MORE ABOUT THE FRANCIS FAMILY
SAID FAMILY
FRESH SELECT
WERRIBEE SOUTH, VICTORIA
The Said family has expanded from a 200-hectare farm into one of Australia’s largest lettuce and brassica growers, now cultivating 1600 hectares across multiple states.
By integrating renewable energy, soil health initiatives, and rapid distribution that delivers lettuce within three hours of harvest, they have become industry leaders in fresh produce efficiency and sustainability.
Addressing food waste, their collaboration with CSIRO led to the development of Nutri-V, a nutrient-rich vegetable powder that diverts 300 tonnes of food waste annually into health products, revolutionising both sustainability and global nutrition.
READ MORE ABOUT THE SAID FAMILY
SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
LUHRS FAMILY
MOORALLA MERINOS
HAMILTON, VICTORIA
The Luhrs family have redefined the potential of Merino sheep by excelling in both wool and meat production.
Their scientifically driven breeding program prioritises fertility, carcass quality, wool consistency, and high animal welfare, leading to their commercial Merinos outperforming traditional prime lamb genetics in a national feedlot competition.
With their wool included in the prestigious ZQ program and their lambs turned off at 22-25kg carcass weight, the Luhrs are proving that Merinos can be both profitable and versatile across multiple markets.
READ MORE ABOUT THE LUHRS FAMILY
EDGAR FAMILY
NAREEN, VICTORIA
The Edgar family runs a highly efficient 2000-hectare sheep operation, managing 10,000 composite breeding ewes with a strong focus on pasture preservation and drought preparedness.
By utilising containment feeding, deep-rooted perennial pastures, and a 7000-head lamb feedlot, they have built a resilient system that maintains high stocking rates and production flexibility even in challenging seasons.
Their strategic approach to lamb finishing, efficient water use, and sustainable land management not only ensures financial stability but also reduces labour, supporting long-term business and personal well-being.
READ MORE ABOUT THE EDGAR FAMILY
KERIN FAMILY
KERIN AGRICULTURE
YEOVAL, NEW SOUTH WALES
The Kerin family has transformed their farming operation into a powerhouse of innovation.
Nigel and Kate Kerin shifted their entire farming philosophy to focus on converting rainfall into grass and selling it through highly productive livestock, leading to the rapid expansion of their landholding and the establishment of Kerin Poll Merino, which has become Australia’s top-grossing Merino stud.
Beyond their on-farm success, the Kerins have built a strong industry presence through social media and educational webinars, using digital platforms to share their knowledge and advocate for progressive, sustainable agriculture.
READ MORE ABOUT THE KERIN FAMILY
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