Wudinna Districts Australia Day Employee of the Year

For more than 10 years local farmer, mother and SARDI field technician Katrina Brands has pulled into the Minnipa Agricultural Centre (MAC) with a positive and can-do attitude. She’s wired for solutions and loves to help.

“I’m just an upbeat, positive person – a ‘can do’ girl – always helping people.”

It’s this attitude, and the deep respect of her colleagues, peers and broader community that has seen Katrina recognised as Wudinna Districts Australia Day Employee of the Year 2026.

Drawing on 20 years farm experience with her husband Michael at Mount Dampier, Katrina joined the SARDI team following an expression of interest that coincided with her son Matthew completing school and joining the family farm.

In her role, Katrina supports more than 20 MAC field trials a year across Eyre Peninsula - from Penong, to Cowell and Cleve. These varied trials investigate crop growth in different soil types, experimental varieties of cereal and legume crops, and the efficacy of herbicides in managing specific weeds.

While quick to point-out she’s not a scientist, Katrina says the role has deepened her own on-farm knowledge, especially in weed identification and trial seed varieties specific to local conditions.

“I am merely a foot soldier – I’m not a researcher – I am a worker… and I can definitely identify a lot more weeds!’

Her days often start on the road, travelling distances to trial sites, operating sampling equipment like a hydraulic soil rig mounted on the back of a LandCruiser, observing crop growth stages and level of weed presence. Katrina records the data that will inform future farming decisions and many of the reports tabled in the SARDI Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems Summary, released annually in April.

Her colleagues describe Katrina as energetic, generous with her time and knowledge as a primary producer - someone who never sits idle.

“Katrina is a highly valued staff member here at MAC, always willing to jump in and help with whatever is going on. Her dedication, professionalism in her approach, and efficient use of time are exemplary. Kat has been a key part in the MAC team for more than 10 years now. We are lucky to have her and so proud of this achievement.” – John Kelsh, Minnipa Agricultural Centre Farm Manager.

Beyond SARDI and the family farm, Katrina is active in the Minnipa Bowls and Sports Clubs and supports broader community needs, encouraging others to get involved and active.

Wudinna District Council mayor Eleanor Scholz praised Katrina as a humble, hard worker whose efforts deliver real value “for the benefit of everyone and anyone”.

The Australia Day Citizen of the Year awards are proudly presented by the Australia Day Council of South Australia.