Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Agriculture

Our newest Agronomists, Brooke Cheyne and Amanda Payne recently spent the evening with the Pokeno Guides, helping a group of girls aged 8–13 earn part of their Future Badge. As part of the programme, the Guides were learning about women in agriculture, soil science, and food production.

Guide leader Jemma Bailey (our Finance Assistant), who has been involved with Guides since childhood and has led the group for the past four years, said the evening was both engaging and inspiring.

"It was really beneficial and interesting. Brooke and Amanda put together a practical presentation that kept the girls engaged and thinking. They were great champions for women in agriculture, and I hope it has opened some eyes to future career opportunities."

Jemma said one of the highlights was seeing the girls' excitement throughout the evening – especially when they received free broccoli to take home.

"For us, it was all about community and exposing the girls to opportunities they wouldn't normally see. Guides is about giving every girl the chance to achieve something, be recognised for their efforts, and build confidence."

For both agronomists, the evening was a rewarding experience.

Brooke explained, “We created six hands-on activities covering everything from seed identification and fruit-versus-vegetable challenges through to soil science, crop diseases, and the role of an agronomist.

The girls were surprised to learn that pumpkins are technically fruit, and many were fascinated by the discovery that food production starts long before produce reaches the supermarket shelves.”

"Some of the girls knew a lot, while others had very little exposure to vegetable production," Amanda said. "It was great to teach them about where food comes from, what goes into growing it, and some of the challenges growers face. They were incredibly engaged and enthusiastic."

Activities included identifying different vegetable seeds, exploring what foods originate from the soil, testing whether sand or soil holds water better, solving real agronomy problems, and learning about the pathways Brooke and Amanda took into their careers.

"It was motivating to see how excited they were” states Amanda. “Hopefully it gave them some insight into agriculture and the opportunities available. It certainly made us want to do more of this in the future."

The evening was a great example of community engagement and inspiring the next generation to consider careers in agriculture and food production.