Women Winning In Agriculture: The epitome of grace
Published:Thursday | August 9, 2018 | 12:00 AMRocheda Bartley/ Lifestyle Writer
It's not your typical beauty pageant. But owning the title of National Farm Queen means that you are the epitome of grace, poise, and intelligence in agriculture. The 13 parish queens strutted their way into the Medallion Hall Hotel for Nutramix's Women Winning in agriculture seminar last Tuesday.
Specially designed for the queens, the second staging of the seminar sought to prepare the ladies for what awaited the lucky one who would be crowned as the 55th queen.
The event pooled together women from all walks of life, especially young farmers and those interested in agri-business and a handful of males, with equal delight.
The panel comprised of 2017 National Farm Queen, Truddiann Ashmead. Brand manager of CB Foods and Nutramix Tina Hamilton, swineherd health veterinarian Dr Audrie McNab, and Jade Lee, the 2016 Female Champion Farmer and owner of the Little Orchard Farm in Linstead.
Speaking as a Queen in her own right, Ashmead focused on respect, empowerment, and women believing in and taking their place in agriculture. Lee shared with the crowd her seven steps to success in this booming industry, minutes before describing the joys of being a successful farmer.
"It's rewarding and very fulfilling. But it was a heartbreaking moment that was also filled with mixed emotions when I traded in my high heels for water boots . Now, whenever I go anywhere I don't tell people that I am a businesswoman or entrepreneur, I tell them that I am a farmer," she told the group of attentive listeners.
Before farming, Lee was a part of the entertainment world, managing famous artistes like Bounty Killer, Sean Paul and Ninja Man.
Attitude and Branding
For one half of the morning's event, the right attitude in is competitive and male dominated arena and personal branding, formed the centre of attraction.
"If you can't change something, change your attitude towards it.
And always strive to be known by the good that you do," McNab said to the contestants. The POO Law, Power of Observation, was another central message she used to sensitise the parish Queens.
Hamilton put the icing on the cake for the ladies, delivering a detailed address on understanding self-worth and efficiently building their brand.