Young farmer joins ‘boys’ club’

A Woodville farmer is proud to be the new head organiser of one of New Zealand’s most prestigious farming competitions, and part of the new wave of women joining the New Zealand Young Farmers’ Board.

Rebecca Brown was elected chairwoman of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year committee last week. She is the first woman to hold the role in the contest’s 50-year history. ‘‘I’m really honoured. It’s a cool feeling and shows that women can do anything.’’ The position meant she was also one of three women appointed to the Young Farmers’ Board at its annual general meeting in Invercargill.

Brown was joined by two other newly appointed women – Canterbury farm manager AshLeigh Campbell, 27, who helps oversee Nga¯ti Tahu’s eight dairy farms, and Wellington-based airline pilot Hannah Cameron, 28, who grew up on a north Waikato dairy farm. The newcomers mean half the eight-member board are women. Before, there were two female board members, one of

‘‘I’m really honoured. It’s a cool feeling and shows that women can do anything.’’ Rebecca Brown

whom is returning. ‘‘It shows women are right there with men at all levels. It’s not just a boys’ club anymore,’’ Brown said.

Although the stereotypical image of a New Zealand farmer was a bloke in a swandri or singlet and gumboots, women have always been a big part of farming, she said.

‘‘There are a lot of women who compete in Young Farmer of the Year and we’ve had many women make it to finals. Hopefully, the next competition will be the year a woman finally takes the grand prize.’’