Leading the Way
For International Women’s Day, we caught up with Lucy and Jennifer, two inspiring, young dairy farmers who work with Barber’s in Somerset, where we get all our Cheddar. They are both part of the Barber’s Steering Group, elected representatives that help in the evolution of Barber’s relationship with their 150 farmers.
Lucy Wilkins, Somerset
Who or what inspired you to become a farmer?
Definitely my family and being lucky enough to grow up on the family farm. I spent every chance I could get in the holidays and long summer evenings after school to go off with my grandad in the tractor or checking the cows, and I would get up early set my little alarm clock to go milking with my dad in the mornings and then go off with my uncle feeding the cows. What made me decide that I wanted a career in this was actually a careers advice meeting I went to at school and I sat there and the whole time I spoke passionately about the cows and the farm and me knowing each individual cow.
What I love about farming is…
Being around and working with the cows, I love it, always loved my girls from a very young age, they are such characters, especially my two cheeky girls, Dolly and Missy, but one of my favourite times of year in farming has to be the spring and summer months having the girls out on the moors grazing checking on them in the mornings and evenings are my favourite parts of the day its beautiful.
How might we encourage more women to get involved in farming?
Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can’t. Find your nearest agricultural college and sign up, you’ll gain so much from doing that, I learnt so much studying my degree the knowledge I gained I have been able to bring back home, there’s no point in carrying on doing the same thing my dad and his father and his father did you've got to move with the times! working in different sectors of agriculture too you just learn so much working with different people, you make lifelong friends and also people that will help you further down the line, too. Go gain as much experience as you can and be determined and you'll get there.
Jennifer Ellis, Dorset
Who or what inspired you to become a farmer?
I was lucky enough to grow up on a farm and had so many great experiences from picnics in the woods to bottle feeding baby lambs and calves. My mum Christina has always been such an inspirational figure, supported me and taught me a lot about farming, particularly caring for livestock and this has really helped me achieve securing a farm tenancy, and now running my very own dairy herd.
What I love about farming is…
What I love about farming is the huge variety it throws at us on a daily basis! My favourite moments are during calving season when you see the cows nursing their newborn heifer calves and you can see the future herd flourishing in front of you.
How might we encourage more women to get involved in farming?
All women should look to farming as a possible career – we need to showcase the variety of opportunities there are and that it can be very rewarding. Being female should not hold you back there are lots of very successful female farmers out there!
