Like a lot of great ideas, this one was sparked while driving the country miles.
Jade Sieben Brindabella Holsteins, Torrumbarry, Vic, came up with the idea of creating the Power of Women in Dairying group “…somewhere on the highway between Tamworth and Dubbo” when she was judging an on-farm challenge in NSW.
The idea became a reality when the group was launched at International Dairy Week.
At a sold out dinner, women from throughout northern Victoria and further afield expressed excitement about a group that aimed to create opportunities for networking, learning and inspiration for women who work in the dairy industry.
Through guests speakers and a panel discussion, women were encouraged to back themselves in business and take opportunities, including in leadership.
Mrs Sieben said women were now active at all levels of the dairy industry and recognition for their contributions was “long overdue”.
One woman whose contributions were highlighted was Lyn Boyd, Brunchilli Jerseys, Finley NSW, who won the inaugural Bette Hall Power of Women in Dairy Award.
The Boyd family milk 370 cows on 202 hectares.
Mrs Sieben said Mrs Boyd had as a child dreamed of winning champion cow at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and to date they have won it seven times with four different cows.
The Boyds have also had great success at IDW, most recently winning grand champion Jersey in 2014. They have won premier breeder every year from 2003 to 2015.
Mrs Sieben said the award was also in recognition of Mrs Boyd’s work with Deniliquin High School, to which she loans heifers and teaches students how to prepare cattle for showing.
“She’s a strong-willed, independent woman who has never been afraid to speak her mind – as she did when her family convinced her to come tonight,” Mrs Sieben said.
“Now I can die happy,” Mrs Boyd sad.
Mrs Sieben thanked Mrs Hall for allowing the new group to name the award after her, as she was a “great cow woman, great business woman and great mother” who was an inspiration to the industry, not only for her intelligence her “amazing” cows at Plana Holsteins, but also her determination in a tough industry.
Mrs Hall started breeding dairy cows in the 1950s and was an early adopter of breeding technologies. She was not afraid to pursue and buy cows that she thought could improve her family’s stud; and went on to form the basis of cow families important to the whole industry.
“To remain positive in whatever you’re doing is very important, don’t let negative thinkers get you down,” Mrs Hall said.
The group aims to raise funds for a scholarship to send a young women in the industry to the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin, US.
