One of the Wimmera’s favourite events for women in agriculture is returning in October.

After a 10-year hiatus, Chicks in the Sticks is back on October 23 at Grampians Park Station, Moyston.

Low emissions farming is the focus, featuring guest speakers Fiona Conroy, who farms at the Bellarine Peninsula, and Dr Cassandra Schefe, principal scientist for The Cool Soil Initiative.

The free event starts at 9.15am and finishes at 3pm. It includes morning tea and lunch. BOOK

Connections and ideas

Wimmera CMA started Chicks in the Sticks more than 15 years ago to provide women on farms with access to practical and current farming information to spark new ideas and foster connections with other rural women.

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Bronwyn Bant said the event was during school hours, allowing more mothers and carers to attend.

Ms Bant said organisers were excited to bring two leading women in agriculture to the region to share their knowledge and practical experience in low emissions farming.

“Both presenters approach low emissions farming from a pragmatic and realistic view point. Women attending will be afforded optimistic and practical information to take back to their farms,” Ms Bant said.

Fiona Conroy, who runs a mixed farming enterprise with her husband Cam Nicholson, will share the practices she’s using to achieve carbon-neutral status and the benefits of doing so. Fiona and Cam also run Nicon Rural Services and are widely recognised for their understanding of carbon from a farmer’s perspective.

“Fiona is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to carbon neutral ag. Not only does she have skin in the game as a farmer, she is also a member of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council giving farmers a voice in decision making and providing feedback on how the sector can prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate,” Ms Bant said.

Dr Cassandra Schefe has worked in numerous and varied science roles and is part of The Cool Soil Initiative, which started in 2018 to support farmers in exploring practices to improve the health of their soil, increase yields, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

A highly-respected soil scientist, she has also worked with many Wimmera farmers in helping them understand their farming systems and soil health through her business AgriSci.

“Cassandra has a really strong understanding of Wimmera soils, specialising in soil chemistry and soil-plant interactions. We are excited to bring someone with her extensive experience to the region,” Ms Bant said.

Booking details

This event is open all farmers interested in low emissions farming. Tickets are free and available by booking online https://forms.office.com/r/k2ayCLgfwH or emailing bronwyn.bant@wcma.vic.gov.au

• Chicks in the Sticks is delivered with funding support from the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Carbon Farming Outreach Program.
• Wimmera CMA will be bringing more low emissions farming events to the Wimmera in 2025.