Women representation grows in ag

Claire Miller is a first-year diesel technician apprentice at New Holland dealership, On-Trac Ag in Orange and is the only woman on her workshop floor. She happens to also be the first New Holland apprentice in 2024 to have secured herself the ultimate Supercars experience. 

In recognition of her emerging talent, New Holland rewarded Claire with an exclusive pit crew experience at this year’s Bathurst 500—where the RedBull Ampol team celebrated their first win of the season.

“It was an unreal experience being in the pitstop and seeing the car come in and out within six seconds. To see what it takes in a high-pressure space was a standout,” she said.

“Bathurst 500 certainly gave me an appreciation for my trade.” 

Miller joined New Holland as an apprentice following a stint in the On-Trac workshop for high school work experience where she fell in love with the trade.

“As a young woman in the industry, I appreciate that my team don’t treat me any differently and have helped me overcome any doubts about my success,” Miller said.

Miller has the agriculture industry firmly in her sights, sharing that her goal is to move ‘up north’ and buy a big property for herself.

Moonie-based Catherine Baker had a completely different path in life compared to Millers, but shares the same passion for the industry and is not afraid to get on the tools to help run a 1750-hectare farm with her husband, growing wheat, barley, and sorghum.

Having grown up on her family’s farm, the primary school teacher recently decided to take leave to have more time ‘on the tools’ and pick up additional responsibilities on the property—a decision that came with the last of her children now attending boarding school.

“I had to refocus my energies and show up on the farm. Although there are days I miss the routine of school, I didn’t realise how much I missed the farm,” she said. 

“I didn’t really grow up driving the tractors—more so steering them while being towed—so I have had to get confident and comfortable quickly to help my husband.

“I’ve driven during planting and harvesting now, and I am getting up to speed. Our newest tractor will definitely be the next piece in the puzzle for me.”

Late February, Baker and her husband took delivery of New Holland’s new T7 Heavy Duty, equipped with Precision Land Management (PLM).

“What has made me most excited about the T7 HD is the PLM component, as well as the ability for the machine to direct and turn itself. It means I can easily pick up from where my husband left off and take greater ownership over task,” Baker said.

Bruce Healy, General Manager of New Holland Agriculture ANZ, acknowledges the contribution of women to the agriculture sector and the importance of promoting and encouraging women to taken on opportunities within the industry.

“Machinery doesn’t know gender. This International Women’s Day, we’re called to invest in and accelerate progress for women—and there is no better industry than agriculture in which to do this.

“New Holland is committed to setting a standard of gender diversity across the industry, in line with the National Farmer’s Federation’s (NFF) goal of doubling the number of women in agriculture’s leadership positions by 2030.”