STORIES of innovative diversification and inspiring accounts of rural careers have been shared at a sold-out Autumn Gathering of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network.

The 10th autumn get-together was at Pavilions of Harrogate on Tuesday, October 10. One of the 130 delegates was Laura Forbes who spoke about how she had forged her agriculture career via a Rich Wigram Scholarship to New Zealand. 

Since then, Laura has managed dairy farms in Ireland and the UK, and now farms in Settle with her husband John. Laura, who also works as an agricultural contractor and part-time at Bentham Auction Mart, told of “the good, the bad and the ugly” of her work. “One of the challenges has been moving around away from home. It can be a very isolating job and you can go days without seeing people. Don’t be afraid to speak to someone when you are struggling.”