ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE AND SHEEP BUILDING CAPABILITY Empowerment in the paddock comfortable to ask questions,” Kirsty said. “Some are full‑time producers and have been for a long time, while others are like me and are still coming up to speed, but we all feel equally supported. “Everyone is greeted with great energy and kindness, and everyone is introduced and made to feel welcome. “Ladies in Livestock gives us a chance to get off the farm and catch up with neighbours, while doing valuable, hands‑on training.” Getting technical It’s the program’s technical focus that Kirsty considers its greatest strength. “Ladies in Livestock recognises there’s a huge opportunity to build the capacity of women on farms by delivering practical, hands‑on skills,” she said. Kirsty and Sam White at work on ‘Kolora’, Guyra, NSW. “There are amazing women on farms, with so much potential and knowledge Kirsty White was at the you have kids’. gained in other industries. first Ladies in Livestock “So I did low‑stress stock handling, workshop in Guyra in 2016 “Ladies in Livestock has tapped into pregnancy testing and other courses, that and is giving them the tools and and describes the program as and I’ve just continued that ever since.”resources to ensure they can make ‘empowering’. In 2016, Kirsty attended a Prograze a valuable contribution to their family Kirsty and her husband Sam operate course delivered by Georgie Oakes, farm, or business.” a mixed livestock enterprise and agronomist with Northern Tablelands Power in knowledge Angus stud at Guyra, on the NSW Local Land Services (LLS), where On a personal level, Kirsty said she Northern Tablelands. the pair discussed the idea of finds the program empowering to The mum of two grew up on the land, a women‑only field day. have access to the latest information, but had been studying and working “Georgie took the idea back to Northern resources and contacts for all outside agriculture when she married Tablelands LLS and in 2016 the Ladies things agriculture. Sam 14 years ago. in Livestock program was established.” “It really helps cut through all the “I had to come up to speed very quickly,”Kirsty said one of the secrets to the information we’re flooded with these Kirsty said. program’s success is its ‘comfortable’ days,” she said. ■ “I received some great advice when I learning environment. got married, which was to ‘do as many “It’s a safe and supportive environment Kirsty White courses as you can, especially before for everyone, where women feel E: kirstywhite@baldblair.com.au SNAPSHOT:Sam and Kirsty White, Bald Blair Angus Stud, Guyra, NSWlS Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 2,300ha plus Cattle, Angus stud, 400 stud cows and Basalt and 850mm 265ha lease sheep and commercial Angus 600 commercial granite/ wool herd, crossbred cows plus progeny, basalt mix lambs and 800 crossbred and Merino wool 500 Merino ewes plus progeny 32