North Otago farmer Jane Smith

What first drew you to farming, and what keeps you passionate about working on the

land?

Farming is in my genes and I'm passionate about it. The main thing that I love is progress. Seeing a tangible difference in breeding better genetics year on year, seeing progress in pastures, fences, genuine environmental progress, young people coming through the sector etc. I couldn't do a job where you aren't making a tangible positive difference everyday. I love the mantra that farmers are guardians of the land, that really resonates with me.

When I left school I looked at either going to Lincoln to do an agriculture degree or training as a lawyer. My older sister was already at law school so I thought I should do something different, so I chose agriculture as it involved people, animals, science and commerce so a great mix. I'm not sure I would have made it as a lawyer anyway as I have a very low tolerance of people that I don't align or agree with, so it could have been a very short career!

What has it been like farming in a sector still often seen as male-dominated?

I have actually never given any thought to the male dominated sector issue as I don't think it is an issue. My first boss Donald McKenzie from the Hakataramea valley said on my first day that he employed female shepherds because they worked just as hard as their male counterparts but didn't break machinery! I was one of only two female shepherds in the Te Anau basin when I then went and worked for Landcorp during my time at University for one one-year work placement and that wasn't an issue that I even thought about. It was the same when I worked for Ravensdown after graduating, there were only 5 female field reps in the country, not an issue. I was the first female to join the local volunteer fire brigade at that same time and again it wasn't an issue. Its only an issue if you make it one, and the males that I worked alongside never did. The world has now moved on and I think the spotlight on diversity has actually done us a disservice, I'm all for the best person for the job regardless of their demographics.  I do really like the way that males look at issues in a very black and white manner, ie see a problem and fix it and then onto the next thing, no looking back and I guess in a way that intially made the sector more attractive to an action-based person. I'm pretty impatient and so I like a fast-moving get in and get things done type of industry and farming is exactly that, timing is everything and the best farmers are those that spend time looking at the options to solve a problem but and then move fast to fix it. I'm not one for re-arranging the deckchairs and ruminating on things, just get stuck in.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced on farm as a woman, and how have you pushed through them?

The same challenges that the males I have worked alongside have faced! Droughts, doubts and debt! I guess the only thing that I have had to juggle perhaps more so than my male counterparts is juggling having a family whilst trying to be totally immersed in your business both practically and admin wise, ie being everything to everyone. I think this has made our three children very adaptable as they have just had to come along for the ride with me, and I see many female farmers doing this every single day out there. The only time I curse "women's liberation" is at tailing and shearing time when I am doing all of the food catering and still also working in the shearing and tailing gangs fulltime, that certainly takes a lot of multitasking but it’s a decision that I have made myself as I want to be involved in the practical side of farming and still cover off all of my other jobs, of which one of the most important is feeding the team!

Who or what has inspired you most in your farming journey, and how do you support other women coming through?

All of those around me growing up, including my Mum during the tough 80s and 90s when farming was a heartbreaking sector to be in, especially when you are trying to hold a family and your community together at the same time.

I'm not a person that you will see at 'womens only' events but I fully support those that run these organisations and courses in order to give women in the industry strength, confidence and fellowship. Women are now leading the sector alongside males, not just in a supporting role. However they still also play a crucial support role in behind the scenes at the same time in their community and for their families.

What changes would you like to see for women at the grassroots of agriculture in the years ahead?

I am not one that buys into pay gaps or gender gaps, I think it is important for women and men to be treated equally. So I could never be described as a feminist but I really like strong women putting themselves forward for roles just because they are the best person for the job, regardless of gender. I think we are in a great space in terms of the role that women play in our society and our farming sector, so I think we should just carry on the trajectory that we are on. I do think men have been a bit isolated out  over the past few years so a balanced view on gender going forward would be good.

If you had to describe rural women in three words, what would they be?

I have a saying that sums up rural women "If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart"

Not three words I know, but it describes why we work so hard -  we love what we do and those around us.