Inspiring stories celebrate women in agriculture
by Yvette Brand Inspiring stories from three women who had taken on diverse agricultural challenges were presented at Farm World’s annual Women in Ag luncheon.
Melissa Connors, Amy Paul and Claire Templeton captured the attention of more than 200 women at the annual luncheon that is now in its eighth year.
Angela Betheras, who initiated the lunch while on the Lardner Park board in 2012, said many women had shared their amazing stories over the years, engaging and motivating their audiences. Melissa Connors Melissa, who was winner of the 2018 Victorian Agri-futures Rural Womens Award, spoke of her journey from corporate career to a Kyneton tree change and the personal challenges she endured along the way as she balanced family and put aside the expectations of others.
Melissa said she and her husband always had dreams of buying a property and following a farm stay in Kyneton, their focus quickly shifted from city to rural.
But it wasn’t a move embraced by family and friends. “Even I wasn’t prepared for the fierce resilience…but I had an intense knowing this was where we were headed.”
Their plans were shelved when Melissa fell pregnant with their third child. She spoke of the pain when their son was “born sleeping” and their life changed in an instant.
“At that moment a courage in me was born. It was a courage that moved us to Kyneton,” she said.
On a steep learning curve as she faced rural life on a 10-acre property, Melissa developed a project “This Farm Needs a Farmer.”
She said the concept was developed after talking to a retired farmer who said – “what do I do with my life now.”
“This Farm Needs a Farmer connects aspiring primary producers with farmers to share