The Weekly Times in partnership with Coles have celebrated the nation’s agricultural sector with the 14th annual The Weekly Times Coles Farmer of The Year awards.

The Herald and The Weekly Times chairman and News Corp Australia Community Ambassador Penny Fowler says the awards help elevate farming excellence to the forefront of the national conversation.  

“From households to houses of parliament we want every Australian to appreciate our extraordinary farmers because we all benefit from their efforts, yet too often they are overlooked,” she says.

“Our farmers feed and clothe the world, and they do so with incredible, inspired innovation despite working land that includes some of the most inhospitable on the planet.”

Mrs Fowler says The Weekly Times and Coles Farmer of the Year Awards have tracked the stunning success of our agricultural sector since the inaugural awards 14 years ago.

“The Weekly Times, together with our other mastheads, have told the stories celebrating rural and regional Australia for more than 150 years, weaving them into a rich and enduring tapestry that is uniquely Australian,” she says.

Coles Group CEO Leah Weckert says farmers are the backbone of our rural communities and the future of Australian agriculture, noting it’s important to celebrate their achievements.

“This year’s finalists stood out for their strong commitment to embracing technology practices to build more resilient farming systems in the face of ongoing challenges such as natural disasters, rising costs and global uncertainty,” she says.

Winners

The Eather family from Narrabri, NSW, were crowned this year’s overall winner for their Bellevue Pastoral Company and the crown for most innovative.

Darren Eather says he’s a passionate farmer and proud to advocate for the industry.

“I love it,” he says. “We are challenged all of the time, we are working with family above and behind us, and you get to work in nature every day.”

The judges said the operation was one of “the most sophisticated, diversified and productive farming businesses in the nation”.

The family grows a range of crops including cotton, almonds and, more recently, citrus on several farmers in the Namoi and Riverina regions of NSW.

Bellevue has achieved record cotton yields and also lifted “water efficiency, soil health and workforce efficiency at a scale few operations can match”.

The awards have now honoured more than 80 winners and 250 finalists Australia-wide.. 

Winners of The Weekly Times Coles 2025 Farmer of the Year Awards: 

• Overall winner and Innovative Farmer of the Year: Bellevue Pastoral Company, Eather family, Narrabri, NSW.
• Dairy Farmer of the Year: Ainslee Family and Compass Agri, Woodrising Dairies, Cressy, Tasmania.
• Beef Farmer of the Year: 3D Genetics, Grose family, Bukkala, NSW.
• Cropping Farmer of the Year: M&R Agriculture, Thompson family, Minlaton, South Australia.
• Horticulture Farmer of the Year:  Tripod Farmers, Candeloro and Ruffo families, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.
• Sheep Farmer of the Year: Bundilla Poll Merino, Baldwin family, Young, NSW.