The Scenic Rim’s Kay Tommerup is one of four finalists in the Queensland Rural Women’s Award.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner announced the finalists and acknowledged the positive and innovative contributions of women across the agriculture industry.

Mr Furner congratulated the finalists and praised their aspirations to improve Queensland’s agriculture industry and for their leadership and outstanding commitment to Queensland agriculture and rural and regional communities.

Kay Tommerup is a dairy farmer from the Kerry district south of Beaudesert.

“[She] is passionate about reconnecting consumers with where their food comes from and how their purchasing choices make a real difference to everyone,” Mr Furner said. Should Mrs Tommerup win the Award and the accompanying $10,000 bursary, her vision is to underscore rural economies with sustainable practice, products and marketing, ensuring farmers can be paid fairly through authentic connections and consumer support.

The other Queensland finalists are:

• Kerrie Sagnol who wants to develop a foundational level online course, designed as a confidence-building entry point into understanding and reviving soil. She also wants to research how farmers overseas are implementing practices on-ground, sharing that information directly to clients and via freely accessible online case studies.

• Samantha Meurant who is the founder of the Rural Compass podcast. She wants to further develop a nationwide online directory, pointing people in the direction of purchasing and hiring from all rural, regional and remote businesses.

• Elisha Parker is a co-founder of Cattlesales.com.au. If she wins, she plans to use the bursary to extend the capabilities of the online Cattlesales marketing and advertising platform to offer interactive catalogue hosting for stud stock bull, female and special sales and auctions, aimed at benefiting and boosting the Australian cattle industry nationwide 

Mr Furner congratulated the finalists and praised their aspirations to improve Queensland’s agriculture industry. 

The Queensland winner will be announced at a Brisbane award ceremony on March 25 and will receive a $10,000 bursary and networking and professional development opportunities to assist in implementing their project.