The fourth Cream of the Crop conference was in Warragul, with most of the women attending from across Victoria and a few from NSW and South Australia.
Held on July 29 and 30, this year’s conference was sold out.
The format has enabled women to build their networks within the dairy industry and feel more confident about initiating business development ideas and attend training in their regions, according to one of the founders.
The Cream of the Crop conference was aimed at providing personal and professional development and networking opportunities for women dairy farmers and industry representatives, according to one of the founders, Chloe Brown.
MC Sarah Thompson announced the conference had reached 433 people in the past four years, with more than 100 women dairy farmers and industry representatives at Warragul.
“This is a safe space for you,” Sarah said, as she welcomed attendees and encouraged them to ask questions of the presenters throughout the day.
“We all wear many hats and this conference aims to provide a safe space for learning, and asking questions without judgement.
“And we encourage you to network and meet new friends during the day.”
“Rabobank funded 10 attendees who were in financial difficulties due to environmental conditions,” Chloe said.
“Also recognising the environmental conditions affecting so many farmers at the moment, Fonterra Oceania was able to ensure all conference pricing was available at the discounted rate, which meant there was one less barrier to attending.
“Fonterra recognised a lot of people are in financial constraints, and did it to benefit all the dairy industry, not only their own suppliers.
“This support from our sponsors helps more women to be in the room and their voices are amplified, and they’re inspired to do better and be better, which they might not get if the cost of attending the conference excludes them.
“Sponsorship continues to grow. Many of the conference sponsors have been there from the start and attract other supporters.
“Our conference sponsors are proactive about backing the upskilling and support of women across the industry — that is really positive.”
Day one of the conference saw presentations about farm safety from Renee Ashmore, succession and tax from Claire Booth, grant writing from Bridget Johns, Dairy Australia’s pilot dairy beef program from Louise Sundermann, and branding from Alison Meagher, who is also known as Butcher Girl Alison.
These speakers were also involved in breakout workshop sessions.
A panel presentation that saw three guest speakers discuss community connections and why stories matter included Dairy News Australia journalist Jeanette Severs, Deanne Kennedy from Cows Create Careers and dairy farmer and Central Queensland University agricultural researcher, Amy Cosby.
Day two of the conference saw participants on the road, with a tour of Ellinbank SmartFarm to hear about research projects on the commercial research farm, and a tour of the Gippsland Jersey fromagerie factory and retail store.
“Holding the conference at Warragul was a continuation of our loop of Victoria,” Chloe said.
“We held our first two in western Victoria, then in northern Victoria in 2024, and Warragul completed the loop.
“The conference is not region-specific, but about connecting the industry across regions. We saw that in the first-timers and the returning attendees this year.
“It’s nice to have an event that people want to come to because they can see the value in it.
“We chose Warragul for a multitude of reasons. Women in dairy is already supported in Gippsland — there is a hole in that representation in western Victoria, but it doesn’t exist in Gippsland.”
Chloe said the conference committee now faced the challenge of deciding what to do next.
“Conversations are well under way about how we continue to replicate this and make it relevant,” she said.
“Our thinking behind the conferences is that they need to provide professional and personal development.
“Originally we discussed how we could go to an event and feel comfortable and able to ask the questions we want addressed in a female-friendly environment.”
That aim was personal to the three founding committee members — Chloe Brown, Lucy Collins and Renata Cumming.
“I was new to the south-west Victoria region and the dairy industry. Lucy and Renata were new to the region,” Chloe said.
“We all had a deep desire to learn more and do better.
“We were inspired by the leadership piece about if we’re not included in the conversations, we’re missing out.
“We wanted a space where we feel empowered to ask questions and we will return back to the farm feeling informed enough to have a conversation about how our businesses can use that information.
“After the first year of the Cream of the Crop conference, we recognised the model would work and we wanted to replicate that, and we brought Jess (Jess Brown) on board the committee to provide financial acumen.”
Chloe said she now feels more comfortable when she goes to a training day, because she will know someone there who she has met at a conference.
“For example, I’m going to cups on cups off training, and I know someone I met at conference who is also going to be there, so I feel more comfortable,” she said.
– Jeanette Severs was a panel guest speaker at the conference.