East Coast Farming Expo: Female speakers to offer insight into farming and industry opportunities

The 2025 East Coast Farming Expo is all about the ladies and will give an in-depth insight into the opportunities and successes the primary industries have to offer women.

Farmers Nancy Crawshaw and Mickey Trotter, along with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council catchment management lead Alice Anderson and agribusiness manager for Rabobank in Gisborne, Ariana Hadfield, will offer insights into their careers.

The women will speak on the second day of the two-day gathering at the Wairoa Race Course, which runs from February 19 to 20.

The 2025 East Coast Farming Expo in Wairoa from February 19-20 will highlight the opportunities for women in the farming industry.

Organiser Sue Wilson said the women came from a variety of careers within the sector and the panel discussion would be a chance to understand the different opportunities available.

“Up until recently it has been a very male-dominated sheep and beef farming industry, especially here on the East Coast,” said Wilson.

Wilson said females may not have the same strength as their male counterparts but they were good at adapting.

“Doors are now beginning to open for women who enjoy getting out on the farm and not spending the day behind a desk.”

Agribusiness manager Ariana Hadfield

Hadfield originally from a sheep and beef farm in the Ruakituri Valley, Wairoa, was looking forward to the event.

“It is fantastic for the Wairoa community, bringing people together to share stories, listen and learn through the seminars and demonstrations.”

She said it was a chance to explore tools and technologies available to the sector.

“As a young Māori woman I have been lucky to have had a very positive experience working in the primary industries. I think women bring a different way of thinking and working to the sector.”

Hadfield said the education aspect of the expo was great and a free health check was a convenient bonus.

“Often having to compete and work in male-dominated professions, women seem more determined and resilient. Women are empathetic, which I think is very important as we work through different challenges in the industry.”

Sheep and beef farmer Mickey Trotter

Mickey Trotter will speak at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo and share her industry experience.

Trotter works as a sheep and beef farmer with husband Clem between properties in Ongaonga and Putere.

They own and operate Woodbrook Stock Co Ltd, running 2500ha effective across three sheep and beef blocks in Hawke’s Bay.

Over the past 20 years, Trotter has worked on sheep and beef properties along the east coast, spanning from Mahia to Wairarapa.

Trotter started her career at NZX in the New Zealand stock market, before transitioning to work as an agricultural analyst for the likes of Agrifax, Market Update, and iFarm, which now operate collectively under Agri-HQ.

After a short stint in rural recruitment, the couple contract mustered in the Northern Territory, Australia, before heading to Montana, United States, to do horse shoeing work.

She said it was great to see more women leading in the agricultural industry.

“They have a real ability to turn their hand to so many things and be lateral thinkers which really helps in so many situations.”

Trotter and her husband are about to start an agri-tourism business, Blackburn Ridge, in Ongaonga.

She said it will be an all-inclusive multi-day retreat including a private farm walk and e-bike experience giving people a unique and authentic rural experience.

“You need to diversify and adapt if you want to stay in the game in these challenging times for sheep farmers.”

Trotter said it was a great opportunity to get off farm and interact with other farmers.

She and Hadfield felt rural people can sometimes live in isolated areas and the wider region had faced some big challenges over the past few years.