In an era where the road to agriculture was a less travelled path for woman, Liz Semmens listened to that inner voice and carved her own career path and it’s paid off.
Growing up in rural Victoria, Liz says farming was part of her community’s spirit but was never actively promoted at school as an attractive career.
“I love been on the land and it fueled my passion for agriculture and desire to study agronomy” she said.
Today, Liz runs an Angus beef herd across irrigated and dryland properties in the Macalister Irrigation District, and she also consults on cropping, nutrients, soil testing, seed selection and whole farm planning.
Resilience and determination have been a big part of her success, but Liz says her mentor was invaluable, particularly in the early days
"I was very lucky to have someone with great experience and knowledge on my team. They taught me a lot and gave me confidence,” she said.
Liz has completed the Women Leading Locally program designed to build the skills and capacity of women to become community leaders and wants to put this to good use.
“My mentor shaped my career path and I want to pay it forward in the future by mentoring women entering the industry," she said.
She commended initiatives like Women in Dairy and the Rural Women’s Network that offer education, networking opportunities and leadership programs for helping empower more women to take up leadership positions in agriculture.
Farming can still be perceived as a traditional male profession, but Liz says attitudes are changing and there are lots of opportunities for women.
“I think we’re moving to better gender equality in agriculture and advances in technology mean we can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’ jobs that were done by the blokes,” she said.
"The industry can entail hands-on work but science, engineering, business management, marketing and finance are just some of the other disciplines needed for running successful agricultural enterprises. And it’s this diversity that makes farming a great career choice for women.”
Liz is quick to acknowledge that working in agriculture comes with challenges. Farming can be arduous and demanding and the clock doesn’t stop at five. Throw a young family to the mix and it can be quite the juggle.
"Luckily, my husband and I have flexibility in our roles to manage our kids and work,” she said.
“The old school mentality about where women should work on the farm has all but died out. Most farmers and contractors I work with love the fact the kids are with us, and they’ll often take the time to talk to them and get them excited about the job.”
With a deep passion for Gippsland’s food bowl, Liz believes the area holds a bright future.
“I see huge growth potential in our region and a great opportunity to inspire the next generation to be a part of it,” she said.
“We need to raise awareness of agriculture as a great career for women and men because getting our young people involved is key to keeping the region thriving.”
Liz’s young daughter has caught the farming bug and wants to follow in her mum’s footsteps, something she keen to encourage.
“I’d be thrilled if she chooses to pursue agriculture in the future. It’s a challenging, rewarding and dynamic industry to work in and I’ll wholeheartedly support her to follow her dreams,” she said.
On International Women's Day, Liz encourages women interested in agriculture to get in and have a go.
"There will always be someone ready to offer help - don't be afraid to ask lots of questions," she said.
"There are so many opportunities, it's just about finding the one that fits your ambition, skills and life goals."