But perhaps more importantly she was an astute worker behind the scenes. She made sure that issues close to her heart, such as succession – particularly after a tragedy befalling a farming family – were brought to women’s attention and openly and sympathetically discussed. She also advocated for farming families with various support agencies at such times so that their situations would be handled appropriately.
It has the chance now to go beyond being a forum and voice for women farm owners. And that hopefully will see many more women involved in dairy servicing industries joining up.Kidd’s leadership, as well as the handing on of the baton Wilson has carried so well, is a sign of the network moving to a whole new level.
There’s a huge, under-used resource out there of hundreds if not thousands of women vets, consultants, rural bankers, and merchandisers who have the same passion for the dairy industry as those on the land do. And harnessing their enthusiasm and people power has to be a good move that should pay enormous dividends.
It’s a fact that in the future there’s likely to be a smaller number of dairy farm owners, as more farm amalgamations occur. But at the same time there’ll be a growing number of those in servicing industries as these larger farms outsource a range of functions from human resources through to hay making.
DWN’s practical workshops should appeal to some of them by way of learning some of the fine detail of dairy farming they’ve not yet been in contact with, as well as its well-run national conference which seems to improve every year both in the scope of speakers and range of issues covered, let alone the growing number of attendees.
As women climb to executive positions in the huge range of organisations, farmers will rely on them to keep their businesses ticking over smoothly. So it’s a great opportunity for them to get their female staff involved with the DWN as well as look at sponsorship options.
A better place to start is probably back at university level where young female undergraduates, intent on a career in agriculture, will know there’s an group of like-minded women on hand to guide and mentor them to achieve all they’ve dreamed of.
In the past it must surely have been a detraction for young women pondering their career choice knowing only too well that their first few years would be spent outnumbered by men, some of whom might have found even their very presence threatening.
Yes, times have changed but some old habits die hard. And the best way of making a positive chance is front-footing it, rather than relying on natural attrition.
Couldn’t DWN, presented with this huge opportunity, look at moving beyond just dairying and into the rural sector generally?
Yes, times have changed
but some old habits die hard. And the best way of making a positive chance is front-footing it, rather than relying on natural attrition.
Yes, there’s Rural Women and the Federation of Women’s Institutes and the great work they do in highlighting issues confronting rural residents. There’s also the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science and of course Federated Farmers, but maybe it’s time for a broader group of female rural professionals to combine resources.
They could add their perspective when it comes to reinforcing the value of agriculture to NZ’s economy. Fresh and young faces are always wanted by the media rather than returning to the same old comments from those who’ve been interviewed innumerable times before.
Federated Farmers has come a long way with representatives like Katie Milne and her straight talking, practical West Coast manner on tricky issues such as animal welfare, and Auckland president Wendy Clark who takes a supremely reasoned approach on complicated issues such as the intricacies of dealing with Auckland Council and all its many tentacles.
But just think of the extra firepower that could be gained throughout the country by harvesting the largely untapped power of women working in agriculture?
It’s worth noting that one of Kidd’s previous accomplishments, among a string of career successes, was winning the Dairy Woman of the Year title last year. Last week the inaugural winner of that award Barbara Kuriger, a former DairyNZ director, spent her first week in Wellington getting used to life as a new Member of Parliament after her success on election night.
Best wishes to you both in leading dairying women’s cause, whatever they may be, in the future.
