General News
10 March, 2026
Agriculture trailblazer gets ‘Rising Star’ nomination
Agriculture enthusiast Zoe Carter has been nominated for a major industry award, recognised for making an impact as a young person in a monumental field.
For Ms Carter, the nomination comes as a surprise, despite years of accomplishments in a field where generations older then her dominate.
“Honestly, it’s a mix of excitement and a bit of shock. I’m really grateful, because I don’t do what I do for recognition. I do it because I genuinely care about agriculture and the people in it,” she said.
“To be nominated feels like a reminder that the work is making an impact and that means a lot.”
Nominated for the Rising Star in Agriculture Category, the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards aim to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly, promote the positive achievements of all young people in Victoria up to and including 29 years of age.
Nominees for this award can be involved in any area of farming or agriculture, such as plant and animal industries, field crops, horticulture, forestry, livestock and more.
This also includes production, education, research, development, innovation, natural resource management, trade and exporting.
Ms Carter said she had been drawn to a career in agriculture since completing high school, an interest taking her all over Australia.
“What I love the most is agriculture feels real. You can work hard, see the results and know you’re part of something bigger. No two days are the same and you’re always learning,” she said.
“A typical day for me can be a mix of early starts, checking in with people, problem solving and getting things done. Some days it’s hands on, other days it’s behind a computer helping connect people to jobs and opportunities. But either way, it’s fast-paced and you feel like you’ve actually achieved something by the end of the day.”
Combining her love of agriculture with social media savviness, Ms Carter has also built an impressive online platform and connected with thousands of likeminded Australians.
She has also been able to start two businesses, Young Aussie Farmers and Agriculture Jobs Auswide.
Young Aussie Farmers is an online platform to develop and help people gain the knowledge and skills they need to start their career in farming.
Agriculture Jobs Auswide is an online jobs board developed to help Australians find work in agriculture effectively, developed after her own struggles to find work.
“To me this award represents hard work, sacrifice and backing yourself to create change in regional Australia and not just waiting for it to happen. It’s about recognising people who are putting in the work, supporting others and helping strengthen the future of agriculture, not just on the farm but across the whole industry,” she said.
Despite the demands of her work bringing her to farms throughout Australia, Ms Carter still loves returning to the Central Goldfields, where her family still resides today.
“Maryborough and the Central Goldfields are a great area because you’ve got strong farming communities and a lot of variety in the surrounding regions,” she said.
“People are hardworking and supportive and there’s a real sense of pride in the land and in the business that keeps agriculture moving.
“I spent a lot of time in Maryborough with my grand-parents. My best memories are from the local pool, the bush block behind their house and an old metal slide that would brand you in summer.”
Regardless of the nomination, Ms Carter is hoping to keep the same trajectory, and to continue not only growing her businesses, but to support other young people in the industry.
“Agriculture is full of opportunity with solid career stability, which we realised was important during COVID. It’s not just ‘farming’ either, there are so many pathways, from hands-on roles to machinery, livestock, cropping, horticulture, agribusiness, transport, technology and management,” she said.
“It’s also an industry where young people can build a solid career without needing to fit into a perfect mould and get paid well. If you’re willing to work, learn and have a crack, you can go a long way. At the end of the day, it’s all meaningful work, we all rely on it.”
The awards will be presented on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Melbourne.