RURAL women will be spurred on to face the future with fresh confidence and vigour on a day packed full of information, challenge and celebration hosted by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women in Farming Network.
The network brings together rural women from across the county in the spirit of personal and professional development and support. Its Autumn Gathering at Pavilions of Harrogate on Tuesday, October 12, from 10am to 2.30pm, is sponsored by Barclays and Savills, and aims to encourage and inspire with insights from a variety of perspectives.
Delegates will hear from Annabel Makin-Jones, an environmentalist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and fifth-generation farmer based at Micklefield, near Leeds who makes it her personal mission to get more people buying British all year round.
Annabel is founder of the highly successful strawberry farm Annabel’s Deliciously British, which is one of the best-selling brands in Booths supermarkets and a supplier to Ocado, the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket.
Transformational business coach and mentor Andrea Morrison, from York, will inspire fresh thinking, freedom of mind and offer useful life balance tips. Andrea works globally, enabling her clients to navigate what it means to be human, releasing their natural ability for confidence, resilience, life balance and growth.
Andrea Morrison
Sally Shortall, Duke of Northumberland Professor of Rural Economy at the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Rural Economy, as well as Alice Liddle and Sophie Jenkinson from the Farming Team at Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons, will offer topical, thought-provoking messages that are sure to challenge and inform. A special video message of support will also be shared from NFU President Minette Batters.
John Pinches, Regional Agricultural Manager for Yorkshire & North East England at Barclays UK said: “Barclays Agriculture are delighted to support the Women in Farming Autumn Gathering. This will be our eighth year of support, having been involved since its inception.”
The gathering will take place in-person for the first time since 2019. Last year’s gathering was streamed live online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kate Dale, Co-ordinator of the Women in Farming Network, said: “It is with great pleasure that we look forward to bringing people together again as a network. The opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share the same challenges is invaluable and not to be missed!”
At the Autumn Gathering, All in a Day’s Work, the network’s photography exhibition will be showcased to delegates after its successful launch at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier this year. This stunning collection of 27 atmospheric images is the work of Ampleforth-based documentary photographer Lucy Saggers.
The Women in Farming Network was created in 2013 following requests from women living and working on farms and related industries. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year, the network worked with a group of members to extend its supportive community ethos online. A private Yorkshire Women in Farming group on Facebook was created and now has more than 400 members.
Places at the Women in Farming Network Autumn Gathering are £20 each and include a buffet lunch and networking opportunities. To register, see www.yas.co.uk/wif-autumn-gathering-2021
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