Four successful women whose diverse backgrounds have all led them to agriculture and its allied industries, shared their inspiring journeys at the flagship Autumn gathering of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network.
From switching classroom for farmyard to fleeing war, messages of resilience and determination to succeed dominated the discussions at Hornington Manor near York.
The Women In Farming Network brings together rural women from across the county in the spirit of professional development and support. Its Autumn Gathering, sponsored by Barclays and Savills and now in its 11th year, is an annual opportunity for this community to renew acquaintances and make new connections.
Clare Wise, a mixed farmer from County Durham who farms sheep, cattle and arable, returned home to run her fifth-generation family farm after 17 years away, having pursued a career in retail and food processing.
A growing desire to return to the family farm saw Clare return home and she went about evolving the farm business. Within five years, every building on the farm had been rebuilt or repurposed, the pedigree sheep flock was replaced with a 500-head commercial flock, utilising New Zealand genetics, and grasslands were reintroduced.
Clare, a mother of three, is now a member of the National Farmers’ Union Livestock Board which gives her the scope to influence government policy. She is also actively involved in educational initiatives, including the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Countryside Days. Clare said: “Make sure whatever you do in life, your soul if full and it is a life well lived.”
Lynsey Pack shared her career journey, from leaving school without A-Levels, to a 15-year stint in the medical device industry before going on to lead charitable initiatives at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
Lynsey told of the transformative effect a mentor had on her early in her career, saying: “I was incredibly lucky to have a fantastic mentor. She not only taught me how to do the job, I credit her for making me a more compassionate person and the leader I am today.”
Razan Alsous told of founding Yorkshire Dama Cheese in Huddersfield, having fled with her family from her native Syria for refuge in Britain in 2012. Razan had been studying pharmacology but the need to support her family saw her launch her cheesemaking business in 2014 with the help of a £2,500 start-up loan from the local enterprise agency.
Razan has gone on to win a series of high-profile awards, contracts to supply major retailers, and has appeared on TV alongside Yorkshire chef James Martin.
Drawing on her entrepreneurial journey to offer encouragement to others, she said: “Don’t undervalue every small effort you make. If you keep putting your efforts into the same place, you will end up with a good value.”
Millie Witty told of swapping teaching Spanish in a Manchester secondary school to working on an organic beef and lamb farm near Masham. Having helped out at her uncle’s farm previously, Millie was asked to join the farm team full time. Despite considerable initial doubt, she gave it a go and a year in, she said: “I have learned so much. When that little voice is in your head saying, “should I do it?”, you should listen to it and go for it.”
Millie is honing her agricultural skills as part of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Goodall Agri-Development Pathway which helps younger people working in the industry to develop professionally. She said: “The Pathway has been amazing. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s about getting to know your strengths, leadership, communication, and the people I have met have been a great support network.”
The Goodall Agri-Development Pathway is a fully-funded training programme to support the development of farming’s next generation. Applications are open until 30th November to those aged 23 to 40 for the next round of the scheme. See yas.co.uk for details.
The Women In Farming Autumn Gathering ended with a tour of the working farm that surrounds Hornington Manor. Owned by Leeds-based bedmaker Harrison Spinks, materials from the farm are used natural fillings in their mattresses.
The Women In Farming Network was created in 2013 as an initiative of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, following requests from women living and working on farms and related industries.
The Network holds a rolling programme of events to bring the community together and hosts a private Yorkshire Women In Farming Facebook group of more than 700 members to keep conversations and support going all year round. For more details, visit yas.co.uk.
