Stephanie March wears many hats: farm business manager, health advocate, and passionate community leader. But her journey to this point hasn’t been an easy one.

As a busy mum of two, including a young son with a rare medical condition, Steph has had to navigate the challenges of rural life and healthcare access while also managing the demands of a growing family farm.

Starting her career as an occupational therapist, then a teacher,  Steph now leans into the idea that her career diversity is an asset to all spheres of her life. She’s using two decades of experience across multiple sectors to drive her passion projects and create business outcomes for the farm. But, of course, her days are never typical, as she continues to learn that personal and professional flexibility are the key to making sure she can ride out the challenges when they arise.

Above: Stephanie at the Stepping Into Leadership 2024 graduation

Realising her potential

And while Steph’s goal-driven personality has ensured her success in a range of fields, it was when she discovered WoTL’s Stepping Into Leadership program that she was able to realise her capacity as a leader – both on the farm, and as a rural health advocate.

“Working with Stepping Into Leadership has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. But in doing so, it helped me recognise and own the value I could bring not just as a farmer, but as an advocate and voice for positive change,” she says.

“I was a bit nervous attending my first WoTL event. I wasn’t sure I had the right experience to be part of an ag-based leadership program. But I’m so glad I took that first step and got involved.”

Steph has attended various WoTL events, and is also one of the most recent graduates of the successful Stepping into Leadership program.

“One of the key lessons I’ve taken away from WoTL is the importance of progress over perfection. I’ve been a goal-setter most of my life, which has at times held me back, being worried that my ideas or initiatives weren’t quite polished enough to put out into the world.”

“WoTL taught me that sometimes you just have to start, even if your idea is not 100 per cent ready. You can always refine and improve as you go. So that’s what I’m doing.”

Above: Stephanie presenting at the Thriving Women Conference in 2024.

Taking the next steps. 

It’s this mindset shift which has been crucial for Steph as she pursues her off-farm passion project, Merci Co- a community-focused initiative that aims to support and connect rural families navigating challenging health circumstances.

“As my husband says, Merci Co is the itch I need to scratch. It’s my way of using my own experiences, and the connections I’ve built, to make a real difference. Plenty of people have paved the way before me and made our family’s experience in the health system much easier, and now it’s my turn to do what I can,” she explains.

Through Merci co, an online blog and soon-to-be-launched website, Steph is not only raising awareness of the unique health challenges faced by rural people, but also advocating for improved services and community support. It’s a cause that is deeply personal, given the medical journey of her young son.

“Having a child with complex medical needs has been incredibly isolating at times. But the WoTL network has been a real positive for me. The women involved understand the realities of rural life, and they’ve encouraged me to use my voice to drive positive change – as many of them continue to do so as well.”

From the outside, we can see that change is already underway thanks to Steph’s persistence and passion, leveraging her leadership skills to secure a seat on key advisory committees at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. These positions provide a crucial rural voice and perspective that would otherwise be missing from those conversations.

“It’s about showing up, being brave, and making sure rural families have a seat at the table,” she says.

Above: Steph at home with the family.

Of course, balancing her advocacy work with the demands of the family farm business hasn’t been easy, but Steph credits the WoTL program with helping her find the confidence and strategies to juggle multiple priorities.

“Another thing WoTL taught me, was the importance of delegation and not trying to do everything myself. It’s helped me become a more effective leader, both at home and in the community. The Stepping into Leadership program has been a game-changer for me. It’s empowered me to step up, speak out, and create the change I want to see – not just for my family, but for all rural communities.”

Steph was a crowd favourite during the 2024 Thriving Women Conference held in Hahndorf in August this year, where she ran a Toolbox Talk on rural advocacy work – an area well known and passionately pursued by many rural women.

“It’s also really important to acknowledge my family, as our journey is a true team effort. We face challenges with positivity and gratitude, with each member playing their own vital role – whether that be on farm, in hospital or in the community. I’m continually both amazed and appreciative of all that my husband, daughter, and son do. We’re also deeply grateful to my mother and father in-law, who purchased and established the farm before we started here. Their ongoing support has been essential to both the farm and our growth—we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”

Story Update: Congratulations to Steph, who was announced as a recipient of a 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant to continue her advocacy work. We love to see the impact our Stepping Into Leadership participants continue to make, read more here.