Lacey wants young women to break down barriers in ag

An inspiring young lady, Lacey Smith is a member of the Rockhampton Girls Grammar Cattle Team. They have a show team of Lowline cattle that they successfully exhibit at many local & national shows in Queensland.

Article by Zhanae Conway-Dodd   (RURAL WEEKLY: 21st February 2017)

WATCHING her mum manage cattle stations all her life has given Lacey Smith the strong belief women can do anything.

Especially when it comes to the agriculture industry.

And now the Rockhampton Girls Grammar Year 12 boarding student wants to share that belief with other young women.

In her final year of school, Lacey has been awarded ag science prefect and intends to use her role as a leader to break down stereotypes of women in the agricultural industry.

Lacey Smith, the Agricultural Prefect at Rockhampton Girls Grammar School shares her ideas about breaking stereotypes of women in the ag industry

She says she wants to promote the fact there are “so many careers in ag, especially for girls”.

Coming from a 52,000-hectare property near Alpha and Springsure with 300 mainly droughtmaster breeders, Lacey runs a committee every three weeks for young women who are interested in ag at the school.

“I’d really like to try and get the girls to promote to the school that there are so many careers in ag, especially for women. It’s not just working on the farm, there’s a lot more to it and there is a lot of opportunity for girls in that career,” she said.

“Especially seeing the ag prefects before me. I have got some ideas from them and built on what they have done.

“We would probably just like to run (an event) or something that can promote the careers, maybe
try and get some guest speakers in from all different aspects from the ag industry.”

Lacey has grown so passionate about women in the agricultural industry, all thanks to her mother.

“Well because my mum is a manager of a property, I don’t think you see that often and I want to get it out there that you can do that stuff,” she said.