One of Queensland’s largest organic beef producers says education is the key to women thriving in the ag space, acknowledging last month’s 2024 International Day of Rural Women.
Held on 15 October each year, the United Nations Initiative promotes the role women play as food providers and protectors of the environment, calling for more opportunities for women in agriculture as producers and decision-makers.
It’s a message close to the hearts of Anna Appleton and her husband Fred, who, in conjunction with Loid and Zabby Appleton, operate Appleton Cattle Company, producing organic beef from 11 properties covering more than 2.2 million hectares.
Both were finalists in the 2024 Australian Organic Awards, Anna as Organic Woman of the Year and Fred as Organic Farmer of the Year.
Anna Appleton grew up on a cattle property at Clermont in Central Queensland and married Fred, a commercial helicopter pilot.
In 2005 they teamed up with Fred’s brother and parents to form Appleton Cattle Company and bought their first property.
Acknowledging the International Day of Rural Women, Anna said she had been fortunate to “grow with the business” and learn along the way.
“When my fourth daughter was six-months-old, I enrolled to study a Bachelor of Business degree externally and, although it came with many challenges, it has really helped me in the long term as I work in the administration and finance side of the business,” she said.
“But, I’ve also learned so much from networking in the rural communities we live in and visit and through constant conversations with other people who share their lived experiences.”
The Appletons were aware of organic practices, however made the decision to convert to full organic beef production and gain accreditation more than 10 years ago, which Anna said was “a big turning point”.
“We were already fairly organic in our practices, so it was quite an easy transition, but moving to certified organic production has been pivotal to the growth and profitability of Appleton Cattle Co,” she said.
“Education has been a very important factor in our organic journey – I feel you’re never too old to learn and adapt.
“The ag space is changing rapidly with the focus on sustainability, monitoring and reporting factors like ESG and carbon, so we need to be open to learning about and understanding these requirements.
“A fast, reliable internet connection is also paramount to operating our business. I’m currently between Birdsville (1600km west of Brisbane) and Bedourie and we rely on both NBN and Starlink satellite technology, both in the office and the paddock.
“Starlink has given us a reliable and affordable option for connectivity in the station camps, for the station hands or for individuals when they’re working alone and remotely.”
Anna estimated a 10-fold increase in the number of women working in the pastoral beef industry and said the company often had more female applications than male for jobs in stock camps and on stations.
Whether male or female, Appleton Cattle Company is diligent about mentoring their employees and offering guidance on a broad range of issues including financial literacy.
“It’s not always formal but it is one of the things we’ve always done,” she said.
“We can’t do what we do without our people, so we try to ensure that everyone in the workplace is invested in the same journey as us, that they understand why we do what we do and have a good grasp of how to comply with all the different organic and animal welfare programs.
“We are always happy to share knowledge and skills, in the hope that it will assist our employees in both their working and personal life.”
As a mother of four daughters, Anna feels positive for their future and for the rural women of their generation.
She acknowledges that women have come to the fore at pivotal moments for the industry, such as the millennium drought and the ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia and has enjoyed seeing them highlighted in magazines such as Graziher.
“I think we’ve come a long way in the rural and agricultural industries. Today women play a big role in their partnerships and they embrace it all.
“The women of my generation – and my daughters – are in a good position and I feel very fortunate to work with and learn from so many different and inspiring women.”
