As a regular reader of the Irish Farmers Journal, farmer Brigid Coffey discovered the stories of former winners from the Women & Agriculture Awards, brought to you by Irish Country Living and FBD Insurance, and it got her thinking.

“I saw the previous features in Irish Country Living, of those who had won the awards and I thought to myself that they weren’t doing anything different to what I was doing. That was what prompted me to apply,” explains Brigid.

Brigid went on to become runner-up in the on-farm category at the award ceremony in 2015, but previous to the glitz and glamour of the main event Brigid became her toughest critic.

“Before the judges’ visit I was very nervous. I rang them in a panic before they arrived on the farm thinking: ‘Oh my, I can’t do this,’ but they were really reassuring.”

The judges were able to put Brigid at ease and, as the tour of her home farm, located in Ballymacmague, Co Waterford, got underway, the anxiousness quickly dissolved.

“Initially I had been embarrassed because they would be coming out to look around the farm, but in actual fact there was nothing to be embarrassed about,” says Brigid.

“Three ladies came out to the farm during August, and they were so lovely. A few hours were spent looking around the yard. I showed them the cows, the milking parlour, the sheds, and where the cows grazed. Then we went inside and discussed a few things.”

Between the years of 1992 and 1993, Brigid took over the family dairy farm from her father, and she acknowledges that the exposure of her farming business due to the awards, could inspire other women to pursue a similar line of work.

“I manage the farm and get part-time help when I need it. I use contractors for jobs such as spreading fertiliser and slurry.

“The industry is not as male dominated as it would have been. When I started out 20 years ago, I felt more alone, but now women are actively getting involved. The awards help to endorse women in that sense, because they promote women in farming and the event was a great way to meet other women in agriculture.”

For Brigid, the experience of the awards was quite a learning curve and she was glad that she didn’t let her nerves take control.

“It made me sit back and think about the plans I have for the farm and that I should be putting those into action.

“I’m so glad I took part, and I would definitely recommend that anyone who is considering the awards to enter. The whole experience was fantastic. It is a great opportunity and the award ceremony really makes you feel important.” CL