Health + wellbeing

I’m not just a ‘farmers wife’, I’m his business partner

I’m not a farmer. I don’t feel comfortable calling myself a farmer. But agreed we women on farms shouldn’t be defined by our husbands occupation. But I need a term to define my role somewhere less than farmer but more independent than farmers wife.

Tori Kopke

Nov 20, 2019 1 min read

Prefer Flying Solo

We both support one another’s businesses whole heartedly. So some days I’m in the chaser bin and other days I’m dropping my son in the header so I can get some work done. And the mutual support of one another is what matters.

I like to refer to farming as my side hustle. It’s not my main gig. It’s not something I do 24/7. It’s definitely a huge part of my life. But to call myself a farmer is a stretch.

I know women play a huge role in farms. I think the movement to recognise such efforts is incredible and wonderful and gets all the gold stars. And women are SO important on farms.

But I struggle to call myself a farmer… I don’t even have work boots. I like to wear dresses in the header at harvest time. I’m more likely parked in the corner of the paddock that has good service so I can email, text, gram or make calls. And guaranteed I’m wearing sandals/thongs/flip flops. Sure when it comes to the business side of the farm I’m all ears. .

I just thought y’all should know. I’m struggling to call myself anything other than an entrepreneur with a farming side gig. I hope y’all can accept it- or help me come up with a better term 😂

Also this was hard to write, and probably slightly controversial. So be nice please.

This post was written by Tori Kopke, founder of 20/20 Marketing Solutions and co-founder of Big Ideas Rural, on Instagram and republished here with permission.

About the author

Tori Kopke

Tori Kopke is The Rural Business Coach. A Texan transplant based on our family farm in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. I work with rural women across Australia to mail their sales process, sort their mindset and find new growth opportunities. I’ve worked across a range of industries from mining to agriculture to styling to artists and creators. I love to help business owners find realistic and achievable growth solutions- especially businesses out in the bush. We operate a little bit differently out here in the sticks, and good old fashioned country values are a huge foundation for my business.

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