In this blog post, Laura Copeland, who coordinates the work of the Society’s Women In Farming Network recaps on the Network’s Summer Social and looks ahead to what’s next – including the Autumn Gathering.
There can be therapeutic benefits of getting together with people who you easily relate with, particularly when isolated geography and everyday life responsibilities limit time for meaningful connections.
This power of connection is a reason why groups like the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network exist.
An initiative of the Society’s Yorkshire Rural Support Network, it creates a community for women who live in the countryside and work in farming and allied industries, and it was in action at the Great Yorkshire Show.
The Network held an informal summer social, open for all rural women to attend, at the Show’s Innovation Zone. Around 40 women enjoyed a glass of fizz, strawberries and cream and were part of a chat with our wonderful guest speakers, Nuffield Scholar Lucia Slack and RABI’s Sally Conner.
It was the first event I’d hosted since being appointed to coordinate the work of Women In Farming and the Yorkshire Rural Support Network, following four years at the Society managing the Farm Retail Association, and it was so lovely to make new connections.
Lucia, a mental health nurse from Cumbria who is studying a Nuffield Farming Scholarship sponsored by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, and East Yorkshire’s Sally Conner, Regional Manager for farming charity, RABI, talked about juggling responsibilities of being parents and wives while working full-time, and how best to self-care amid competing pressures.
The chat prompted lots of questions, creating an atmosphere where I think we all felt better connected and understood.
My own background is rooted in agriculture. Having graduated from Harper Adams with an Agribusiness degree, I worked across the agricultural sector before joining the Society.
I’m a mother-of-two and my husband is an agricultural fencing contractor. I’ve been to Women In Farming events before but I’m now looking forward to further developing this strong, supportive and inclusive network, which owes much to the founding work of Kate Dale, who was deservedly presented with an outstanding contribution award by the Society and RABI at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.
Introducing our new Chair and looking ahead
At the summer social, we welcomed Jill Gray as the new Chair of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network.
Following a career as a college lecturer, Jill works alongside her husband and daughter on the family farm in Calderdale where they run a flock of commercial sheep, breed pedigree Berkshire pigs, and a pedigree flock of Ryeland sheep.
Jill is also Chair of the Ryeland Flock Book Society and is a fantastic addition to our team as we plan how the Network continues to support those in the industry.
Lots more in the coming months
Coming up next, we have commissioned specialist trainers F3A to deliver farming focused first aid training at venues in Holmfirth, Scarborough and Leyburn.
Charged at just £20 + VAT for a half-day session, they have proven popular.
Only a limited number of places remain for the Leyburn date – follow this link for details.
Looking ahead, a date for your diary is Tuesday 14 October when the Women In Farming’s Autumn Gathering will take place at Lodge Farm, Cundall near York, bringing together a panel of women with inspiring stories to tell about their lives in agriculture.
More details will be announced soon. If you’d like to find out more, make sure you are signed up as a free member of Women In Farming by following this link to receive our updates.
In the meantime, if you would like to chat to us about what we do and how you can get involved, you will find members of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society team at Kilnsey Show on Tuesday 26 August and at Masham Sheep Fair on the weekend of 27-28 September. Please do stop by and say hello!
