About 40 DFMC suppliers, representing both our conventional and organic milk supply, travelled to the stunning Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. With the AGM held in McLaren Vale (just 40 minutes south of Adelaide), members also took part in a full-day farm tour across the region, visiting several impressive operations:

• Nangkita Dairy: The Connor family showcased their innovative setup, featuring six robotic units retrofitted into an existing herringbone dairy, with a further eight robots recently added as part of their expansion.

• Amdema Dairies: A newly completed greenfield development, this 70-stand rotary dairy is now milking 800 Jersey cows.

• Rockwella Holsteins: A large-scale operation incorporating a compost barn, 16 robotic milkers, automatic calf feeding systems, and a biodigester converting methane into electricity.

AGM attendees also heard from guest speakers Narelle and Joel Zanker of Dairy Adventures Mannum, an agritourism venture developed on their family farm. Narelle, the 2025 South Australian Young Dairy Farmer of the Year, shared an inspiring story of how their vision has grown into a successful business connecting consumers with dairy farming.

While the tour and presentations were a highlight, the real value of the event came from the strong engagement between farmers; owners and managers alike, from across all states in the co-operative. It was a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, and strengthen relationships within DFMC.