Stories of Impact | WoTL

Taking the ram by the horns

by Kim | May 23, 2024 | Latest News, Stepping into Leadership, Stories of Impact

When 25-year-old Ellen Arney stepped into the role of Farm Manager of her family’s sheep stud, she knew there was going to be a steep learning curve ahead. Whilst some may consider her young to be managing a farm business, Ellen has a deep appreciation and enthusiasm for sheep breeding and together with a love of farming, she was ready to take the ram by the horns.

“I’ve always been interested in farm work, pushing sheep along. As I grew up, I just learnt how to read them and loved going around the paddocks with Dad,” explains Ellen.

Inverbrackie Border Leicester Stud is located in Finniss, South Australia. For her thirteenth birthday, Ellen was gifted ten stud ewes from her parents. Perhaps this was the start of the succession plan, because if you ask Ellen, she was always going to come back to the farm. However, there were some conditions that had to be met before this happened.

“After finishing boarding school, I did a gap year where I worked on the farm for part. Dad said to me before I come back permanently, he wanted me to work away for a bit. I was already enrolled in a Bachelor of Agriculture and Business and Armidale University in New South Wales so off I went.

“The study showed me that there are so many opportunities in ag, so many ways to specialise if you wanted to. But with farming, you kind of do all those bits in farming itself, not just doing the one thing all the time and using all your skill sets.”

When COVID hit in 2020, Ellen moved back to South Australia and completed her final year part-time, whilst also working on the farm. Her Dad, Lynton, was ready to start the succession, and Ellen was offered a managerial position the following year.

“Mum and Dad decided to buy a house off the property. Dad comes out most days and asks what jobs I want him to do for the day. I’m not mechanically minded, and there are still things I can’t do like fix a tractor, but he can teach and show me.”

WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership Program

Following her participation in Livestock SA’s Agri-Silience program, WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership (SiL) Program came highly recommended by several people to Ellen as an ideal leadership course for women in agriculture.

“I was looking to participate in a leadership course because I knew I was young to be taking over the farm at 25. At the time, I was only just old enough to do the SiL Program!” explains Ellen.

“Many successors don’t get offered this opportunity (taking on the management of the family farm) until they’re in their 40s so I knew I was going to be doing things so much earlier.”

Ellen had a few reservations about participating in an all-women’s program. Whilst attending other rural women’s events has given her a greater appreciation of the vital role rural women play in the agricultural sector, she was often left feeling like she didn’t quite fit the mould.

“I guess for me, I don’t have that support of a husband or farmer. I am the farmer whereas a lot of the women played more of a support role, which is great, and they absolutely have an important role to play. But I associate myself with being a farmer, so these events didn’t quite resonate as much for me.

“What I liked about the SiL Program is that it wasn’t just a two- day course like some of the other (leadership) courses on offer. It required an ongoing commitment, and I was going to be made accountable, which I guess is what pushed me into it.”

As it turns out, Ellen realised she had more in common than she realised with the diverse group of participants, who whilst all connected to agriculture, all had unique backgrounds and stories to tell.

“When we first met, I felt like everyone had known each other for months which made us feel more at ease and allow us to be more vulnerable together. We can just talk at another level.

Susie Green, Ellen Arney, Minister Clare Scriven

Above: WoTL Chair Susie Green, Ellen Arney and Minister Clare Scriven at the 2023 Stepping into Leadership Graduation.

Following her completion of the 2023 SiL Program, Ellen is forging ahead and continuing to learn the ropes in her Farm Manager role under the guidance of her dad.

“Since finishing the program, I find that I communicate differently. The way I communicate with Dad is different. I often find myself stopping when something is hitting a nerve and thinking before responding. Learning how to reframe questions and conversations has been such a vital skill.”

Lynton has also noticed changes in Ellen.

“Dad has said things to me like ‘I’ve noticed a lot of differences in you. You’ve changed quite a bit.’ But I’ve also noticed that I’m not so upset all the time, I used to take a lot of things personally. The dynamic between Dad and I has changed.

“One of my pet hates used to be him talking over me to the dogs. One time when this happened, I took a breath, and offered a boundary. I just said “Next time, whoever’s with the dogs gives the instructions.

“All the expectations that were put on me, were by me. I’m still learning new things. I have to remember he’s had 50 years of experience whilst I’ve had five!”

“Understanding different personality types has been incredibly beneficial. Whilst I can see the benefit of doing the SiL Program later once you have the experience behind you, I’m glad I know a lot of this stuff now, the life skills and learning how other people work is so valuable. It’s really set me up for the future.”

Ellen acknowledges that the SiL Program can be confronting, as a large focus is developing an understanding of yourself.

“It’s really rewarding to have that level of awareness. It just changes how you approach life going forward by offering a different perspective.

Ellen’s gift of ten ewes has now grown to her managing a flock of 2000. Whilst she can’t necessarily claim ownership of them all (yet), she did recently purchase her first parcel of land from her parents as the succession continues. Whilst she is still growing and learning, Ellen continues to lean on her SiL network for support.

“We try to catch up every year. We’re just able to talk at another level after our shared experience.”

From Fleurieu to finalist

by Kim | Apr 4, 2024 | Stepping into Leadership, Stories of Impact

Susie Williams usually avoided doing anything with groups of women. The long-held perception that this situation could be dangerous or intimidating and could possibly get her in fight or flight mode had kept her away.

But last year, Susie came across WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership (SiL) Program on social media and chose to stretch herself outside her comfort zone. Luckily, she did because she was able to turn that perception completely on its head. Six months since the completion of the SiL program, she is now processing her remarkable feat as a 2024 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year finalist, an opportunity she never considered as being a possibility.

“I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I can attribute participating in the SiL Program with my decision to apply for the award”, laughs Susie.

“I think it was just the right time for me, at the right stage of my life. I was starting to lose my mojo a bit with my business and had begun asking questions about what I was doing.”

Susie’s passion for connecting communities and supporting local businesses is what earned her the well-deserved accolade, which recognised her passion project, the Fleurieu App. The app brings together news, sports and business, as well as things to see and do on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, all in one place.

Susie grew up on a sheep and cereal farm. After leaving school, she knew she wanted to do something in agriculture. Following the completion of tertiary education she settled working in precision viticulture, a career which has taken her across Australia and New Zealand with her husband, who also works in the wine industry, and their three daughters. It’s also a field which can be very ad hoc. The problem with that is Susie likes to stay busy, one of many traits she believes she inherited from her late father, a farmer.

“I don’t like to sit still. Like me, he was always doing something, thinking outside the square. He was quite stubborn, which I think you do need to have a little bit of when you’re running your own business, but he also had a love of learning.”

Moving back to South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula and frustrated with not knowing where anything was, Susie decided to do something about it. Hence, the Fleurieu App was born.

Susie Williams, 2024 SA Rural Womens Award finalist

WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership Program

WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership (SiL) Program is an eight-month, personal and professional development journey offered to 15 women connected to agriculture every year. Participants take part in face to face workshops, and individual online coaching and mentoring sessions supporting them to take the next steps on their leadership journey. Friendships and networks are also made over the course of the program.

“When I was accepted into the program, I found this amazing tribe of women. I was made to feel completely safe to be able to explore ideas and ask questions about myself and my business. This type of environment gave me the confidence to share openly. There was a lot of growth that happened over that time,” explains Susie.

“Obviously, there is a certain amount of vulnerability that comes with sharing some of our challenges and life experiences but being held by this group of women, and feeling seen, was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

“I now have this group of women behind me that are giving me the confidence I need and have my back. I can just pick up the phone and run an idea past them, which is a network I didn’t have before. The whole program is a real confidence builder. I learnt to not be so hard on myself, which isn’t always easy.

“Many of these women will be mates for life.”

Working closely with her coach, Jeanette Long, and mentor, Anna Fisher, Susie built up the courage to address something that had been holding her back. She hosted her own networking event.

“Jeanette was amazing and a real wealth of knowledge. To grow my business, I knew I needed to put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone, but I found networking and talking in front of people really hard. It would always hold me back.

“Jeanette did a really great job in preparing me for the event, to give me the confidence to go in and tackle it.

“SiL has given me so much. As women, especially mums, we always keep reinventing ourselves. Having access now to this incredible group of women, and the SiL alumni is such a privilege.”

Understanding the incredible power of networks was a motivation for Susie to put herself out there and nominate for the SA AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year Awards.

“After my experience with SiL and finding my tribe, if I could then tap into the alumni of the Rural Womens Award, imagine what I can do?”

Leading the change

by Kim | Feb 7, 2024 | Ambassadors, Case Study, Stories of Impact

For Leanne Pridham, it was not having a business card to put into a bowl at an event that made her realise the value of her role within the family farming business. This one seemingly trivial detail turned out to be a pivotal moment, creating awareness that Leanne was underestimating her value.

It is not overly uncommon for women working in farm businesses to feel this way. Somewhere along the way, and for reasons that remain unclear, farming has generally not been held in as high esteem as other professions. Identifying as a farmer, and owning that title, continues to be an ongoing challenge.

“It’s such a minor thing, a business card, but I always thought I didn’t need one because I ‘just work on the farm’,” explains Leanne, whose role in the family farm business ranges from office duties and driving heavy machinery, to strategic and big picture planning.

The event Leanne attended was WoTL’s Thriving Women Conference, an event aimed to grow and inspire women connected to agriculture.

“At that conference, my thinking was challenged. I realised there’s no reason why I shouldn’t have a business card, and I could put anything on there; finance manager, logistics manager, machinery operator, it didn’t matter. It was the permission I sought and WoTL gave me that.”

Becoming a WoTL Ambassador

Leanne lives and farms on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, primarily a grain growing region with her husband and three boys. Coming from a livestock background, after settling in the area she quickly realised there were some fundamental differences between livestock and cropping enterprises, particularly the number of women actively farming. Many farms in the area were being operated with traditional set-ups, with the male being the one who runs the farm, and the female as the helper and more “behind the scenes”. But in the words of Bob Dylan, “times they are a-changin’.”

After resigning from her government job to work alongside her husband on the farm, she was hungry for professional development opportunities to hone her knowledge and skills. Leanne was passionate about finding other women in her area with similar ambitions.

Leanne played a key role in revitalising the Yorke Peninsula Partners in Grain (PinG) group, which has evolved into WoTL- Yorke Peninsula. Leanne is now a WoTL Ambassador for the region. As well as encouraging women in her area to not underestimate the value of their roles within their agricultural businesses, one of Leanne’s other main motivations is to create opportunities for women to gather, and if she’s honest, to encourage conversation around the challenges (and benefits) of working alongside your life partner.

“It’s good to talk about machinery, and the general operations of a farm. But it’s also important to talk about the softer stuff, communication, leadership styles, that sort of thing. This is a language that women tend to be more fluent in and is also an area that we can really influence change.”

Leanne Pridham hosting a WoTL event on the Yorke Peninsula

A large part of Leanne’s Ambassador role is organising events for the WoTL Yorke Peninsula community which has a growing network of around 60 women. Each member’s connection to agriculture ranges from identifying as being a full-time farmer themselves, through to others who work off-farm but provide support to their partners. The type of events offered are just as diverse and have included farm safety, crop walks, women’s health, yoga classes and mindfulness through art sessions.

“Feedback at the end of a workshop or event is always positive. However, a lot of the real connection takes place over a meal where honest conversations happen. You hear a lot of remarks like ‘I never thought of that’ or ‘I’m going to try that’, which is great,” explains Leanne.

“We always have good attendance. I’m proud to have helped create these connections and safe spaces for women to come and talk about their family farms. Having access to high quality facilitators and experts in their field is a huge drawcard and offers participants the opportunity to build networks that extend right across the country without having to leave the region.”

Organising events for women in her area is as much for herself as well as everyone else, however Leanne continues to witness the ripple effect and impact in the wider community.

“I had a woman come along to a farm financial workshop who hadn’t been to a WoTL event before. She had left her teaching position to come back on to the farm. She is highly operational, running a feedlot. After the event I ran into her father, who she works alongside, who told me that the event had been one of best she had attended and she learnt so much,” recalls Leanne.

In addition to her role as a WoTL Ambassador, Leanne is also a WoTL Board Director and an alumnus of the Stepping into Leadership Program.

And she still doesn’t have a business card. Not because she lacks confidence or self-value, but purely because that task is still waiting to be ticked off her to-do list!

Finding validation through connection

by Kim | Dec 18, 2023 | Regenerate Rural Women, Stories of Impact

REGENERATE RURAL WOMEN PROGRAM: Women living in rural areas are often the glue holding families, businesses and community together. Particularly during times of crisis or disruption, life can quickly become overwhelming. Stress and anxiety can start to creep in as we try to keep our head above water. The importance of taking care of ourselves becomes increasingly important.

Kerry Bammann (pictured below) lives on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula with her husband and three children. She is a broadacre farmer, alongside her husband, a job she has dreamed of doing since she was a child.

The pathway for women in farming has not always been encouraged. In fact, women were not legally able to identity as a “farmer” until as recently as 1994. Kerry was deterred from pursuing a career in farming initially as her parents discouraged it. Instead, she went on to university and became an agronomist. Her career led her to the Eyre Peninsula where she eventually married, ironically, a farmer. Her dream was realised when she chose to leave her job in agronomy and join her husband on the farm.

Farming is not an easy career choice. After years of being told she shouldn’t be working on a farm, Kerry was starting to question whether this was the right place for her. The feelings of uncertainty were taking their toll and she noticed she was becoming impatient and irritable, especially with those close to her including her husband and children.

“All my life I had been told that farming wasn’t for me, and I was starting to believe it. I’d been wondering whether I’ve been too busy trying to prove a point (that I was meant to be a farmer) and not explored other opportunities. It felt like I was having a bit of an identity crisis,” explains Kerry.

Pushing these thoughts aside, she soldiered on, tending to everyone else’s needs but abandoning her own. Though she had at times explored various self-awareness and self-care strategies, there remained a feeling inside her that just needed to be addressed.

The Regenerate Rural Women Program came to Kerry’s attention when a local WoTL Ambassador encouraged her to consider participating. Naturally, there was a small amount of reservation before committing to the program but with some encouragement, she signed up.

“I’m so grateful I did.”

Regenerate Rural Women Program

The WoTL Regenerate Rural Women Program is a six-week guided self-exploration program. Led by experienced and knowledgeable facilitators, participants commit to an online orientation session, two in-person workshops and an online coaching session.

A key focus of the program is to challenge participants to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and where their thoughts, ideas and opinions may come from.

“Our group was small, which was great because it felt safe and we were comfortable to speak openly and freely to share our stories. There was complete confidentiality and trust,” explains Kerry.

“Most of us realised quite early on that we’re not going to be any good to anybody (family, friends, community) if we’re not filling own cup first and looking after ourselves.

“Our facilitator was just brilliant in how she supported the women in the room. People could share how much they wanted to, or how little. The storytelling was everyone’s favourite part. I think we could see a part of ourselves in the other women.”

“We were invited to explore spaces we don’t visit very often, or ever. Our facilitator just had a way of working it through to release stuff. When I was struggling to make sense of my own feelings, she was the key to unlocking what was really going on. It was quite emotional for me to be opening those doors.”

Kerry completed the program with a fresh new perspective.

“I’d spent my whole life trying to prove that I was meant to be a farmer, proving that’s who I was and that I can do it.

“What was important though was for me to recognise that now that I am doing it, that I do love farming and it fills my cup. This is me and I belong here.”

The changes and shifts were not only noticeable in Kerry, but also within her family unit.

“I hadn’t had a chance to unravel or understand my emotions and where they came from. Since completing the program, I’ve made peace with myself and that has flowed on to my family. I’m a much better person for having participated in the program. Everyone around me seems to be in a much better place too.”

Kerry now makes taking time for herself a priority. Regular yoga classes and morning walks are now non-negotiable. She’s also been able to say ‘no’ to things to take back time for her.

“The program was amazing. I found the answers that I’d been searching for for so long and I feel so much more content and at peace with where I’m at.”

Abbi Dahlitz (pictured in cover image) is a young mum with a toddler. After growing up on the Eyre Peninsula, she attended boarding school in Adelaide for her final years. On completion of her schooling, she went into a career in real estate.

She swore she would never go back to the Eyre Peninsula, but life can be funny like that, as during her time in Adelaide she met her partner, also from the Eyre Peninsula.

“He just wanted to be a farmer,” said Abbi.

After a move back to the Eyre Peninsula where her partner now works on Abbi’s family farm, and following the birth of their child, Abbi felt like she was in a bit of a rut.

“I didn’t feel like I had any life goals. I felt stuck and that I wasn’t doing enough.”

Whilst on maternity leave, Abbi considered whether now might be a good time to pursue further study. With a childcare shortage though, this option was beginning to look difficult.

Like Kerry, Abbi also came across the Regenerate Rural Women Program through a WoTL Ambassador.

“I was nervous about what I was getting myself into. After the first day I remember thinking ‘these girls have got their life on track, they’ve studied and have careers’. I saw them as people in the community who have got it all together.”

As she moved through the program, the nerves settled and Abbi started to feel more at ease as she connected with the other women in the room.

“What I realised was how much we all had in common. I don’t think anyone felt like they knew what they were doing (in life), and that is completely normal feeling to have. In fact, it was quite reassuring!”

The biggest shift for Abbi after completing the program is a change of perspective, particularly around her personal circumstances. Many women often feel a perceived pressure to return to work quickly after having children, for fear of losing their skills, being left behind or for financial or other reasons.

“I’m more satisfied with where I am at this point. It’s OK to be at home and enjoying time with my family. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side and just by doing further study is not going to bring the fulfillment I’ve been looking for.”

“I feel a lot more content.”

Since completing the program, Abbi has picked up part-time work one day a week which has given her what she needed to fill her cup but has also allowed her to focus on what is most important in this season of her life – her family.

Find out more about WoTL’s Regenerate Rural Women Program.

From scrubs to work boots

by Kim | Oct 26, 2023 | Stepping into Leadership, Stories of Impact

About an hour east of Adelaide on South Australia’s Murray Plains, lies “Thornby”, a historic large scale lamb feedlot and broadacre cropping enterprise run by the McGorman family.

Fiona McGorman has lived two very different lives. Not so long ago she was working as a nurse, a career she absolutely loves. With a clear path and direction of where she was heading, Fiona was working her way up the ladder and doing lots of great things within the health sector. However, there came a point following some structural and operational changes within the family farming business, and juggling raising three boys, that she eventually decided to hang up her scrubs and put on her work boots.

Stepping into the farm business full-time was a big learning curve and light years away from her life on the hospital ward.

“I didn’t stop nursing completely straight away. I took some leave, some without pay, to give myself time to make a decision. I feel with nursing, to be good at what you do you need to be competent to keep your skills up. I don’t like to do things in halves, and I like to do things well. But I just felt like the farm was where I needed to be.””

Despite knowing this was the right decision for her and her family, it has still been a lot to process.

“To be honest, I do feel like I am grieving that part of my life in a way. Nursing is all I’ve ever known. Realistically, I know I will likely never go back,” says Fiona.

Fiona knows any perceived pressure she may have felt to leave nursing and come on to the farm was completely her own. Her husband, Alex, has been fully supportive of whatever she wanted to do. Together, they now operate Thornby as a team which has had some unexpected benefits.

“It’s been really good for our relationship and our marriage actually, as I know more of the day-to-day stuff and what’s going on. The change has definitely been a positive thing. I wouldn’t change it.

“Now I can be around a lot more. The boys get off the bus at the end of the farm driveway, and Alex and I are both here.”

Since being involved in the farm business, Fiona is particularly proud of the high rate of female employees that work within the Thornby team.

“Some of the girls that we have on board may have no ag background experience, but their attention to detail is really good. It’s always great to encourage women and girls to get in to ag. Moving wool bales is probably the only thing they may potentially ask for help with!”

Stepping into Leadership

Despite working with students and junior staff as a leader in her nursing life, Fiona recognised that running your own business is very different to working for someone else. With the farm business now employing over 25 staff, there was a responsibility to ensure that her management and leadership skills were up to speed.

“I knew what it felt like to work under some not-so-great managers, and I know what it feels like to not be valued, and I didn’t want to be that person for our staff or our team,” explains Fiona.

Fiona found out about WoTL’s Stepping into Leadership Program through an email that was forwarded to her by a WoTL Ambassador.

“I remember looking at it and thinking it was probably right up my alley in what I needed at the time. Coming from a non-ag background I felt that this could be beneficial for me having not previously had much to do with the farm.”

After putting in an application, Fiona was pleasantly surprised when she was accepted into the 2022 Program.

“Stepping into Leadership was wonderful. I’m very grateful for the mentorship I received, the friendships made, and for the personal growth I was able to achieve.”

Her newly acquired leadership skills have complimented many of her nursing attributes which have been transferrable into her farming role.

“I try and have empathy for people and insight in to how they are going, try to make things more tolerable in an environment that can be pretty harsh and challenging sometimes. Farming life can be tough.”

Not surprisingly, Fiona’s nursing skills are still proving to be useful.

“I have come in handy as a nurse from time to time. I’m usually the person that people go to when they hurt themselves!” laughs Fiona.

As a passionate ambassador for women in ag, Fiona is also a strong supporter of WoTL’s Thriving Women Conference and is planning to bring all her female staff to the 2024 event to be held in the Adelaide Hills.

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