Celebrating Women in Farming this International Women’s Day

6 March 2025

Holly Brooks – Dairy Farmer and Mobile Farm Educator

Q. What inspired you to become a farmer?

I am a first-generation farmer and started our dairy with my husband nearly three years ago. I was passionate about producing sustainable food for local communities to buy directly from our farm. I also wanted to highlight the importance of high animal welfare standards and demonstrate how buying local produce is a more sustainable way of living, benefiting the environment through lower food miles. All our milk and ice cream are sold in plant-based packaging and reusable glass bottles. Additionally, I run a mobile farm to educate future generations about farming and sustainability.

Q. What does being a farmer mean to you?

It means everything! My farming journey was difficult to begin with, as a first-generation farmer, but I’m proud to show what can be achieved through determination, strength, and hard work.

Q. What’s the most rewarding part of hosting children on the farm?

It’s incredibly rewarding to see their excitement and engagement with the activities we run. The best part is when they share what they have learned at the end of the day. Many even say they want to become farmers when they grow up – which is amazing!

Q. Why do you think it is important for young people to connect with food and farming?

It is so important for young people to understand where their food comes from, how it is produced, and how, in the UK, we uphold high animal welfare standards while farming in an environmentally friendly way.

Q. What challenges have you faced as a woman in farming, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges is when people visit the farm and ask for the farmer – bypassing me completely! It’s frustrating, but I simply explain that I am the farmer and share what I do, which helps change perceptions.

Q. What advice would you give to a young woman interested in farming?

Go for it! If you work hard, you can succeed. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in – determination and passion will take you far.

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Maz Montgomerie – Farmer Host

Q. What do you grow on your farm?

We grow:

Cereals – wheat, barley, oilseed rape, peas, and beans

Soft fruit – strawberries and raspberries, in partnership with Hugh Lowe Farms

Sheep – lambing in April

Bees – 10 hives, alongside our soft fruit business and various environmental schemes

Q. What challenges have you faced as a woman in farming, and how have you overcome them?

I feel incredibly lucky to work on the farm and enjoy the outdoor environment, which is why I love sharing it with visiting pupils through the Country Trust. As a woman in farming, it can be harder to get started – you need to be strong and determined – but it is so rewarding, and there are now more opportunities for everyone. I’ve often been asked, “Where is the farmer?” to which I reply, “She’s right here!” After a laugh, people are always happy to work with me. Our farm is busy throughout the seasons, and I look forward to welcoming more visitors this year.

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Suzi Sadler – Arable Farmer and Agronomist

Q. What inspired you to become a farmer?

My love of the outdoors and the influence of my grandad and dad inspired me to become a farmer. I spent all my time on the family farm, getting muddy and riding on tractors and the combine during harvest. From an early age, I developed a keen interest in growing crops for food, especially in crop protection. I started walking the fields with our farm agronomist, Paul Colman, who inspired me to pursue agriculture.

Determined to become an agronomist, I applied to every agrochemical company in the UK, asking for training in crop protection. Paul, our former farm agronomist, offered me a trainee position specialising in potato production. I qualified within 18 months and worked as an agronomist for eight years before returning to the family farm to support my dad and grandad. Now, as a third-generation farmer, I’m immensely proud to produce high-quality food for iconic brands while also caring for the environment. I have a passion for wildlife, especially barn owls, my favourite bird.

Q. What does being a female farmer mean to you?

I am incredibly proud to be a female arable farmer. As one of three sisters with no brothers, taking on the family farm is my greatest achievement. I love challenging the stereotype that farmers must be big, strong men. People are often surprised when I tell them I run the family business, operate all the machinery, and even tackle the least desirable jobs, like cleaning out the grain dryer! Their shock at seeing me drive a sprayer or combine harvester makes me feel empowered.

I also enjoy promoting agriculture as a woman. I have appeared in adverts for Warburtons, Unilever’s Colman’s Mustard, and Food Unwrapped, showcasing mustard planting and farming processes. I’ve contributed to British Sugar and agrochemical campaigns and hold leadership roles as a director of English Mustard Growers and a founding director of Condimentum, which mills mustard for well-known brands. It has taken time to realise my role as a female farming role model, but social media has highlighted how many women are thriving in agriculture.

Q. What’s the most rewarding part of hosting children on your farm?

I love watching children arrive, bursting with excitement and amazement at the space around them. Their first questions are often about how much our house cost and how much I earn as a farmer! Once they settle down, we discuss their breakfasts – some answers can be quite surprising and even saddening.

One of my favourite activities is teaching the farm-to-fork process using props like toy tractors and laminated pictures. The children act out different farming roles, from planting seeds to driving the harvester, transporting grain, and working in a bakery. It’s wonderful to see them connect the steps and understand how food reaches their plates.

Q. What do you hope children take away from visiting your farm?

I hope they leave with great memories of a fun day on the farm, an appreciation for the food they see in shops, and an understanding that farmers are real people – not just Jeremy Clarkson-style TV personalities! I also want to show that farming is hard work, requiring dedication through all seasons and weather conditions. Most importantly, I want to inspire children to consider careers in agriculture, whether or not they come from a farming background. Who knows? Maybe one day, one of them will knock on my farm gate looking for a job!