Join us for the Women in Farming Autumn Gathering entitled ‘Return to the Farm: Agriculture as a Second Career’.
The flagship annual event of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network, the 11th Autumn Gathering will be held at Hornington Manor, Bolton Percy, York on Tuesday 8th October 2024 between 10am and 3.30pm.
Hornington Manor is set within the grounds of a working farm. Owned by Harrison Spinks, a Leeds-based bed maker, the farm provides materials which are used as natural fillings in their mattresses.
The Autumn Gathering is open to all who live and work in the countryside and rural industries, across the county and beyond, and is kindly sponsored by Barclays, Savills, the Yorkshire Rural Support Network and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
Are you ready to hear inspiring stories about careers in agriculture?
Whether you’re already in the industry or looking for a fresh start, this event is perfect for you.
Tickets are £25 per person inclusive of a buffet lunch, networking opportunities and an optional farm tour.
Introducing the speakers
Clare Wise is a mixed farmer from County Durham, farming sheep, cattle and arable.
Following a career within the food chain, Clare returned home to run her fifth generation family farm.
Clare is a member of the National Farmers’ Union Livestock Board and actively gets involved in educational initiatives, including the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Countryside Days and the NFU’s Farmers for Schools programme.
Millie Witty
Millie is newly pursuing a career in agriculture, having previously taught Spanish as a secondary school teacher in Manchester.
Millie wanted a change of work environment and decided to leave teaching and begin working full time on her uncle’s organic beef and lamb farm located near Masham.
Her career goals include hosting educational farm visits, exploring regenerative farming and agroforestry and increasing cattle numbers on the farms whilst developing her knowledge of animal nutrition.
Razan Alsous, the founder and driving force behind Yorkshire Dama Cheese, a celebrated cheese company based in Huddersfield.
Born in Syria and a graduate of the medical institute in Damascus, Razan was studying pharmacology when the 2012 war compelled her family to seek refuge in Britain.
Facing the challenge of reconciling her unrecognized qualifications with the need to support her family, Razan took a bold step into entrepreneurship.
In 2014, Razan launched Yorkshire Dama Cheese with the help of a start-up loan from the local enterprise agency.
Her vision paid off: just four months after starting, Yorkshire Halloumi won a Bronze Prize at the World Cheese Awards.
Since then, her cheese has garnered numerous accolades, her range of cheese has expanded to seven varieties and she supplies major retailers, including Booths.
Lynsey Pack leads charitable initiatives at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society after a 15-year career in the medical device industry.
Lynsey’s career journey is a testament to perseverance and ambition.
After leaving school without A-levels, Lynsey was determined to prove herself in the workforce.
By the age of 25, she was managing a team of 45 people in the production of medical implants, a highly specialised and regulated field. Her strong leadership skills, attention to detail, and commitment to quality quickly set her apart.
Lynsey continued to excel, eventually becoming Head of Quality Assurance at one of the largest syringe suppliers in the UK.
In this role, she was responsible for ensuring that millions of syringes met stringent regulatory standards, safeguarding patient safety across the NHS.
After 15 successful years, Lynsey decided to shift her focus towards the agricultural sector.
She joined the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, taking on a new challenge to lead charitable activities.
Within three months of joining the Society, her skills and leadership were recognised with a promotion and she now also manages the society’s commercial Agricultural partnerships.
Not sure what to expect?
Read our full report from last year’s Women In Farming Autumn Gathering here
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Grateful thanks to our Autumn Gathering sponsors:
