Agsafe proudly sponsored three Australian Women in Agriculture conference delegates in Brisbane last month, where our visitors heard from some inspirational keynote speakers and shared their experiences with others in the agriculture industry.
“Don’t let the pursuit of perfection stop you”.
That was just one of many messages Agsafe’s delegates absorbed at the annual AWiA conference.
The sponsored farmers demonstrated their strong commitment to agriculture when they travelled to Brisbane to hear inspiring speakers and share their experiences with other women in the industry.
AWiA’s two-day event highlighted the changing face of agriculture, with an emphasis on farm succession planning and meeting the challenges of rural life with gusto.
Ag student Jess Bellamy from SA; macadamia farmer Juli Buchanan of Booyong, NSW; and cropper Eliza Peel from Inverleigh, VIC, all said they would return home armed with new safety strategies and a sense of belonging to a wider community.
For Jessamy, it was the encouragement from presenters who had taken on leading roles in the ag industry that inspired her.
“The speakers are equals in the industry, not just the woman in the background,” said Jess.
“Dr Kathryn Galea, one of Australia’s first district agronomists, didn’t let stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination prevent her from pursuing her passion and making a difference in her field.”
A common theme that kept coming through the conference was the number of creative schemes conceived during difficult times that proved so successful, they went on to become market leaders.
Joy McClymont is founder of Off the Track Training, a remote fitness program borne after 11 years spent fighting crippling drought on her Longreach sheep and cattle station. Joy’s business has proved so successful, she won the 2015 Strong Women Leaders Award in Business.
Gen Windley is co-creator of Just Veg, an inventive scheme to market “ugly” vegetables as fresh vegetable sticks and shred to avoid waste and use all on-farm produce. In July, Gen and a group of women farmers involved in the zero-waste incentive went on to launch Carrot Vodka, another creative way to ensure 100% of farm crops were used up.
Keen to make a difference? Visit www.awia.org.au.