Connie Roffey and organizer/instructor Angela Field. Courtesy Photo
By Angela Field
AgriNews Contributor
TractHER Day: Empowering Women on the Farm was an absolutely fantastic day, and the women who attended all left with smiles and more confidence than they came in with.
There were 9 amazing and talented instructors, and 9 pieces of equipment ranging in size from a Hustler zero turn lawnmower, to a 2023 John Deere self propelled forage harvester. There was a self-propelled sprayer and skid steer thrown in with a truck and gravity wagon as well as the tractors. We had the privilege of encouraging and instructing 16 women at the Renfrew Fairgrounds who drove from as far away as Perth to gain this important hands-on experience.
Fortunately, we also had safety consultants on site, and we made sure that the ladies who came out were comfortable and confident when they left our piece of equipment for the next. We highlighted safety and safe work habits, but coloured it with a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
When the satisfaction surveys came back, we averaged a 9.3 on overall satisfaction out of 10, and our instructors ranged from 4.28-4.71 out of 5. We also received a lot of feedback about possible additions for next year. Our sponsors were generous, and our volunteers enthusiastic.
The Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture had a hit with this event, and we are more than happy to share our format to any groups who’d like to try an event like this of their own.
