Can you tell us what your role currently is on the farm ?
Since the family is still very involved and I am still studying, I am currently working part-time for our farm which has 300 heads and 150 cows in lactation and freestall with robots.
What do you like the most and the least about the family farm lifestyle?
The tasks are super diversified in this environment, we have the chance to work in many areas and to have a lot of responsibilities. You learn something new everyday. Unfortunately, we cannot control everything, our operations depend a lot on the temperature, the equipment and the access to a good qualified and dedicated workforce.
What advice would you give to young girls who want to work on a farm or take the family farm ownership one day?
Take your place, it belongs to you as much as to anyone else. Farming is a matter of passion, not gender!
What do you think are some of the essential qualities needed to become a good farmer?
Farming is a demanding job for which you do not count your hours. It must become a way of life more than a job, we are always ”at work” more or less. To succeed in the field, I think it is essential to be a persevering person, because there are ups and downs. It also takes great resourcefulness to manage a set of tasks. I would also say that it takes ambition, the desire to win. These are the essential qualities for me!
