International Day of Rural Women: the contribution of Jodi Goodsward and Stephanie Gudgeon

In October, the International Day of Rural Women is celebrated, highlighting the importance of women in agriculture, the economy, and regional life. This year's theme focuses on caring for nature. Examples include Jodie Goodsward and Stephanie Ghajoyan from DairyNZ, who promote the improvement of environmental performance on farms and strengthen their resilience.

Stephanie Ghajoyan has worked in the agricultural sector for 20 years. She notes that women need a certain amount of time to adapt to a new system, master terminology, understand seasonality, and grasp the specifics of labor. Jodie Goodsward grew up on a dairy farm and is married to a city dweller; Ghajoyan came to agriculture after a short internship. Both specialists apply their knowledge in practice: they protect water bodies, plant native plant species and riparian strips, combining the maintenance of healthy ecosystems with productive business management.

Stephanie Ghajoyan works in the DairyNZ regional team as a regional manager, which allows her to help the industry. Jodie Goodsward manages DairyBase, the largest and oldest dairy benchmarking service in New Zealand. According to her, the role of women in the dairy sector is becoming increasingly visible; they are no longer perceived simply as "farmers' wives," successfully working as veterinarians, truck drivers, and managing their own farms.