Mrs Ryan is the wife of the late Buster Ryan and, for many years, the pair would spend Australia Day on the road with countless of others in their trucks delivering hay to drought-stricken communities.

It was a tradition the pair loved taking part in - first with the Burrumbuttock Hay Run and more recently with Need for Feed.

Tragically, Mr Ryan passed away last year after an on-farm accident, but Mrs Ryan said she not only wanted to honour his memory by still going on the run, but people in need still needed help.

"After what happened, the first thing I said was I was just going to withdraw from everything we had been involved in ... that was my reaction," she said.

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"I was telling people there was no way I could do it without Buster, but then I started thinking 'you know what, I need to keep doing it because that's what he would have wanted'.

"I want to do it as much for myself as I do for Buster.

"It's very important I continue his work and that's what I want to do."

This year's run is now on its way to Cecil Plains in Queensland where communities continue to be hit hard by drought.

While the pandemic has thrown in some hassles, drivers now have their permits and will be able to deliver the hay where it's needed most.

Need for Feed is part of Lions Australia, with Mr and Mrs Ryan holding the organisation close to heart after their long association with the Yanco Lions Club.

"I've only been able to do this run this year thanks to a lot of support from a lot of people ... my load of hay has come from the McDonald family which is who Buster worked for," Mrs Ryan said.

"They said they will continue to donate the hay and a trailer every year. Wagga Trucks have again come on board with a truck for me too."

Mr Ryan is also nominated in Tuesday's Leeton Australia Day awards in the lifelong citizen to the shire category.

"He would have been thrilled to be nominated ... he loved this town," Mrs Ryan said.