A young British woman charts the future of agriculture in Northern Ireland

Faith Gould, a young British woman from Northern Ireland, is one of the new generation of women contributing to developing the future of the agricultural sector, by combining her agricultural family background, academic study and practical experience, in addition to her active participation in the Young Farmers Club of Ulster (YFCU).

Faith grew up on her family’s dairy farm, where she maintains that farming was not just a career choice, but a way of life that has been with her since childhood.

She said: “Agriculture has always been an essential part of my life. I grew up on the family farm, and from an early age I knew that this was the field I wanted to work in.”

The roots of her interest in agriculture go back to a family that has been raising dairy cows for generations, where the family atmosphere and daily discussions about the sector contributed to strengthening her passion, in addition to the great support of her parents.

She also pointed out that her grandmother played an important role in developing her interest in raising calves, saying: “She paid great attention to raising calves and was keen on the smallest details, and this influenced me a lot.”

Her passion for agriculture was strengthened during her studies at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where one of the teachers encouraged her to pursue this path. She was the first student to complete the agriculture subject that was launched at the school. She also participated in specialized events, most notably the Women in Agriculture Conference.

During her career, Faith benefited from the experiences of a number of women working in the agricultural sector, whom she considers an inspiration to her.

She is currently pursuing her studies in sustainable agriculture at the Greenmount Institute, in parallel with her work in various agricultural fields, including part-time work at Leam Agri Company, helping with milking on farms in the Ballinamallard area, in addition to her participation in a local project for raising goats.

Faith is also active within the Ulster Young Farmers Club, where she undertakes media duties at the local branch level.

She points out that she did not face major challenges as a woman in the agricultural sector, pointing out that the outlook towards the role of women in this field is witnessing positive development.

She said: “I feel that things have become much better, and there is an increasing appreciation for the role of women in various fields of agriculture.”

She stresses that seriousness in work and the desire to learn are the basis for success, regardless of gender.

She calls on young women interested in the agricultural sector to seize opportunities and not hesitate, considering that practical experience is the best way to acquire skills.

Between study, work, and community participation, Faith Gold represents a model for a new generation of women who contribute to enhancing and developing women’s presence in the agricultural sector.