Farming women gather together in Lochgilphead
IF YOU are a woman in agriculture in the Argyll and the Islands area, an event next week is sure to be of interest.
Women in Agriculture, Argyll and the Islands branch, is hosting a free one-day conference on Wednesday October 4 at Lochgilphead Community Education Centre, from 10am until around 3.30pm.
Guest speaker on the day will be Sutherland sheep farmer Joyce Campbell, winner of the inaugural AgriScot Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year Award in 2015 and currently joint chairwoman of the Scottish Government’s Women in Agriculture task force.
Joyce said: ‘I’m really looking forward to hearing from grassroots members about their thoughts and ideas for the Women in Agriculture task force. I want to know what challenges they all face, and what they feel needs to happen to make our Scottish agricultural industry more representative of everyone who’s involved in it.’
The conference will be chaired by Sarah Allison, vice-chairwoman of the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) New Generation Group and previously chairwoman of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs Agri and Rural Affairs Committee. Sarah also sits on the newly created national council of rural advisers.
Sarah said: ‘Women can be the underutilised resource in rural Scotland, at the heart of many of our rural businesses, but all too often missing from crucial decisionmaking processes, and rural boardrooms.
‘It is important that, to develop the rural economy, we empower and encourage our fellow ladies to share their talents with the wider industry.
‘Events like this are important in breaking down the barriers to participation, evaluating how we can do things differently and involve the full scope of skills we have available.
‘I am delighted to be involved in this event, and hope that we can encourage more women get involved in shaping the industry that we work and live in.’
Workshops will be available on maximising your assets, farm diversification, becoming politically active and rural leadership, rural mental health and wellbeing and young people’s skills and education.
Everyone is welcome, but booking is essential. For further information, contact Lucy Sumsion, NFUS regional manager, on 01449 600154 or email lucy.sumsion@nfus. org.uk.