The Work Behind the Work: Encouraging Women to Step Into Their Power in Ag
Broad acre farmer Robyn Buerckner might be working behind the scenes at this year’s Thriving Women Conference, but she’ll have a front-row seat when 200 women in ag gain career and life-changing connections, knowledge and confidence.
Robyn, who manages multiple properties in and around Ariah Park in NSW with husband and fourth-generation farmer Paul, first saw the power of the conference’s positive impact when she helped organise the inaugural NSW event in 2023.
The combination of inspiring guest speakers, empowering leadership workshops and networking events that connected women in the industry got her thinking about the work many women in ag are doing on-farm, often behind the scenes and without recognition.
“We might not be out in the paddock spraying crops, but we’re often in there running things behind the scenes,” Robyn said.
“Whether it’s managing the finances, the staff or all of the regulatory and compliance work, there’s a lot involved in that.”
Above: Robyn and the Thriving Women 2023 Committee at the event in Wagga Wagga, and on the farm with her husband, right.
“At the last conference, I noticed that there were a lot of women who were running or working in all sorts of businesses, but weren’t often aware of the importance of their roles. Once they got talking about their farm with others, though, it started to highlight the different qualities that these women bring to their business, and they started to realise they do play a pivotal role.”
The power of WoTL’s Thriving Women Conference, and the group’s other training programs such as Stepping into Leadership, is in empowering women to build their knowledge and leadership skills to step into those roles.
Robyn took on her own behind-the-scenes role in the family farm in 2018, after several years of expansion created a need for someone to take on more of the business management side of the operation.
It followed an early career in the ag industry, when Robyn studied an environmental science degree at uni, and took on work with a private precision ag company.
Above: Robyn after completing the GROW program with Tocal College.
She shifted into working in catchment management for the NSW State Government and, after marrying Paul, she made the physical shift to Local Land Services’ Temora office and started delivering incentive programs to local farmers to assist them in on-farm precision ag projects.
“After we married, the farm expanded and then we needed extra staff and all the management and paperwork that comes with that, so in 2018 I started working in the business full time,” Robyn said.
The mother-of-two still took on the occasional local government event management contract and, when she saw WoTL’s Thriving Women conference was coming to Wagga Wagga in 2023, she jumped at the chance to get involved as a committee member.
“Since I began working full time on the farm, one of the things I missed most was being around people. Being on the farm can be a bit isolating, so being back in the space where I was developing relationships with other organisations really restored those connections, and led me to build new connections within the ag industry.
“It’s also given me an extra sense of purpose, and I’m giving back to the agricultural industry. Sometimes on the farm you can get stuck focusing on the grind of the next thing, because there’s always something that needs doing.
“Being part of organising the conference in 2023 and again this year, it’s a real buzz to see everything you’ve worked for come together and see the 200 women in the room learning new things and improving their leadership and confidence.”
Now, as the convener for the 2025 conference, Robyn’s excited for this year’s program to inspire and empower a new group of women.
“The conference is quite unique in the way that it’s structured—we have 15 Toolbox Talk sessions running over five session times, so people can customise what they’d like to get out of the event,” she said.
“If they’re focussed on the finances, business planning or succession planning, there’s a whole selection of talks. Or, if they’re looking to improve their leadership skills, they can hone in on that.
“I’m really excited for our keynote speakers. They’re all down-to-earth women who are demonstrating what’s possible when you want to achieve big things. This year we’ll also have a panel of more grassroots women in ag, and I think that will help highlight some of these behind-the-scenes roles and get women thinking about their own role in their business.”
Robyn is passionate about building connections between women in ag and hopes the conference will lead to opportunities to expand into new learning, professional development and networking events and workshops in NSW beyond the conference.
“I have been really inspired by seeing how WoTL deliver learning opportunities on farms and in regions,” she said.
“WoTL is a leader in that space and I’m keen to see how we can form partnerships with groups and organisations in NSW to deliver opportunities here into the future.”
Back on the farm, and the Buerckner family is preparing for a year to remember, celebrating the milestone of 100 years of the family farming on the Ariah Park property.
And while the focus will be on a centenary of rich farming heritage, Robyn is also excited to see the way women in contemporary agriculture are increasingly embracing their roles.
“Generationally, I can see we are making movement in recognition of women’s roles in farming,” she said.
“I’m in my 40s, but through the conferences I’m seeing women coming through in their 20s who are really owning their positions in the farm and that’s inspiring to see.”
Secure your tickets to the Thriving Women 2025 Conference, in Wagga Wagga, August 18th-19th.
