Women In Agriculture

Pictures from Media Store House

I really dislike this title!

Women have worked on farms since the year dot and let’s mention the war, if the women did not run / work the land the country would have starved but then we have short memories and in 2018 we are fighting to find our place and to get a fair share of it all.

A couple if years ago when the title Women in agriculture kicked off I was very despondent towards it.  I have been very fortunate despite not being born into farming, I decided to go to Agricultural College so did, then everything after that has gone the way I wanted in my career.  I have a very can do attitude and don’t like being told No, I will prove anyone wrong.  With this attitude I couldn’t  see the problem.  Even though I didn’t agree with it I still attended events and meetings mainly to find out what was happening.  The first meeting I went to was in Nov 2016 Women In Agriculture, this left me despondent,  I since returned to the meeting in Nov 2017 which was not as good, I felt that now WIA has such a following and women are investing their time to go to the meeting it should have been more on!!  With the broad selection of people there and the unique setting the day could / should have been so much more.  This group has a fantastic platform for Women and it is their responsibility to use it better.

The more I go to events and meet new women and actually listen to their stories you find out so much, a majority have had to deal with unnecessary shit that would damage a weaker person but these ladies are using this as a positive, to drive the industry forward and change for the better.  I have had to realise that my journey wasn’t always smooth and I do still get comments in fact one just last week, I will not let it affect me negatively.

There is now a group in Dumfries & Galloway called Dumfries & Galloway Dairy Women Network, it is run with the help of NFUS.  It meets once a month and tackles up to date issues.  There are practical sessions from Calf Signals to Accountancy. There is a meeting next month, which is a Discussion night , (click the link for details) this is to evaluate where they are and what it’s members want going forward.  This type of group should be rolled out across all the region’s and open up an accessible positive learning hub for all, not just women.

Through the WIA group I was invited to a mentoring event. After a day and some soul-searching I was described as a hot mess and no one could help me!  Well what was I meant to do with that…The reality of the day was I had met some fab ladies who pop up at various events I go to.  I did meet on that day Nina Clancy, she is fab, I hear her from time to time in my head when I start to sink,  her words just pull me up and I can keep going.  It was then that I knew I had been looking at everything wrong… For me there is no one light bulb moment, it’s about getting out and sharing your story, talking to people, asking questions.  I have decided there are no stupid questions or if there is I just don’t care I ask them and then the answers come.  It takes effort and a bit of back bone but solutions don’t just land in your lap!

I found out recently I had made a difference to a young lady who was having a rough time working back at home trying to take on the family farm. To find out that I made a positive difference was truly remarkable.  My words have power (Can’t believe I’m saying that) we as people who are fortunate enough to be where we want and how we want, have the responsibility to be the best version of ourselves to show it is possible and to be there for anyone that wants to take notice.

Nearly forgot about the Women In Agricultural Task Force.  Well I did not like this at all when it came out.  It has targets to meet etc Oh my heart sank this is going to set us back!  I sat on this for a while and then decided to go straight to the Source to ask my questions on the Task Force.  I started with Fergus Ewing who is Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity (if you didn’t know) Very nice chap.  Then moved onto Nina Clancy who went through all my misgivings and gave me copies of documents and reports (wish i checked how many pages before sending to print!) I have read them all, then I moved onto Joyce Campbell (what do I sound like?!?!) The long and short of it is I am on board with it and while I may not agree with all of it, it is about working together not against for the better of all.

One mantra I truly believe in is be yourself, don’t be something you are not people can sniff out bull shit!  Don’t dull yourself down to fit in or indeed talk about subjects you don’t know about.  That won’t work!

Remember peeps

A x