In the lead up to the next UFU WIA webinar, communications officer Tracey Donaghey highlights why men are so important to the cause.
As the Ulster Farmers’ Union prepares for its second of three Women in Agriculture (WIA) webinar series which takes place on 21 April, our president Victor Chestnutt recently recorded a video to encourage men to attend. The title of the movement may seem like it is primarily for women, but men have an important part to play in the WIA journey too.
While the agri-food industry has come on leaps and bounds with women’s expertise becoming more recognised and many now holding leadership roles, it is still very male dominated. However, mens’ influence within the industry has the potential to make a world of difference as we work towards achieving recognition and equality for all.
Connected
Sometimes it can be difficult to understand something when we’re not directly impacted by it but through mothers, daughters, sisters, wives/partners and nieces, the majority of men within the farming community are connected to WIA.
Supporting WIA doesn’t mean shouting it from the rooftops or wearing a nice badge on your coat for public exposure everywhere you go. It can be as simple as encouraging your daughter/granddaughter/niece’s involvement on the home-farm, watching Rare Breed together, helping her with biology homework so she can get the grades she needs to attend Greenmount or encouraging her to come along to UFU group meetings. They are seemingly smaller efforts, but the aftermath of which can be life changing.
To ensure the farming industry in its entirety can flourish alongside all the efforts of men and women who are supporting the young agri enthusiasts in their lives at home, it’s vital that everyone with the ability to hire and promote another within the agri-food sector, rewards on merit alone. Thus, creating a better working environment and an abundance of equal opportunities ensuring women don’t get observed with surprise in one’s eye because of their career choice in agriculture.
Being the same
I recently took part in a panel discussion with two female students from Wallace High School in Lisburn, who progressed to the final stages of the ABP Angus Youth Challenge competition. As part of the competition, they acted as brand ambassadors for ABP and promoted their theme ‘women in agriculture’.
Alongside the other panellists including former Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster president Zita McNaugher and NFU’s regional board chair for the North East region Rachel Hallos, we were asked what we thought about WIA. To which, Zita answered, “It’s not about being special, its about being the same.”
This is a great way to look at WIA. The movement is now, and it is needed to achieve undisputed equality with our male counterparts in the agri-food industry. We are working towards a time when WIA no longer needs to make headlines because we have achieved what we set out to do and “if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” (Henry Ford)
Pictured is UFU president Victor Chestnutt and his granddaughter Jane Morrison on the home farm.
