A GROUP of women in the Mallala district have started engaging in some weighty conversations about farming and farm life lately, and the group is about to embark on a long-term goal to zero in on skills for women.
Increased chatter within the community about opening the door just a bit wider for women in agriculture, gave the green light for five women to form a group, yet to be named, to hold workshops and events targeted to the needs of women who are on the farm but wanted to increase their involvement.
Part of achieving this means organisers first needed to remove a few barriers for women wanting to learn more - so catch-ups during school time and a creche were non-negotiable parts of the workshop planning.
Group member Georgia Mattschoss farms at Barabba with her husband and believed it was "crazy" to think that barriers still remained for women.
"We are all interested in farming but no one wants to be the one woman who attends an ag workshop," she said.
"But the door is always open to us and women are encouraged to attend - it is just a male-focused space that can stop some women from attending."
Georgia is pumped for the group to make a impact in this area and believes that not only would women walk away with a wad full of knowledge but an ability to offer increased support and insight for their husbands.
"We can offer so much and through offering technical workshops and providing a collaborative space for women in the district, it will only improve farming businesses," she said.
"When woman feel supported, they can learn more and get involved."
The group have a goal of holding about five workshops a year, that will dodge pressure point months such as seeding, harvest and lambing.
Well-known guest speakers Alex Thomas from Plant a Seed for Safety and motivational speaker Steph Schmidt are on the group's wish list to headline workshops in the future, to help inspire local women to not just get involved but also make their own special path in farming.
VARIED WORKSHOP TOPICS PLANNED
A NEW group has set its sights on offering women-focused workshops and recently, livestock was on the agenda.
Running a mixed-farming operation requires an all hands on-deck approach and to help women improve their knowledge about the best approach for success, a preparing for lambing workshop was held last month at Mallala Coffee House.
Group member Georgia Mattschos said it was great for attendees to gain an understanding about ewe management.
"There are basic ways to run a livestock operation but how to do it so you get the absolute best out of ewes is something everyone could benefit from understanding better," she said.
Speaker Animal Innovation's Mark Dearing delved into rumen function and nutrition, pre-lambing and calving management, as well as raising orphan lambs and calves.
"We want to get as many great speakers on-board for the workshops to offer as much information to the attendees as possible," Georgia said.
The group is a bit of a mix between the Country Women's Association and an agricultural bureau and wants to be an inclusive space for women - and all that comes with that role.
The SA Country Fire Service Firey Women program also came to the group late last year, after Georgia believed it was important for women to be better prepared, in the unfortunate instance of another Pinery fire.
"When there is no phone reception, you cannot call your husband to find out what to do," she said.
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