I kept thinking to myself, 'someone needs to create some feminine girly overalls," Celeste says. "Then one day I just thought 'well why don't I?" "I couldn't believe that in an agricultural country like New Zealand
with so many women working on farms no one had done women's farm wear before." After speaking to other rural women, Celeste was confident she
knew what she needed to do. Armed with the knowledge she started by designing women's overalls and now her range has grown to include women's shed aprons in colourful feminine prints, women's work gloves, stylish and functional gumboots and pink overalls. "I accept that My Farm Lady is not for every farm woman out there
but at least now women have an option when it comes to their farm wear. My Farm Lady is all about empowering women to be able to express themselves and their femininity whether they are milking cows, fixing a tractor or just weeding the garden. Just because it's dirty work doesn't mean we can't look good doing it," she says. As well as being a wife and dairy farmer, Celeste is also the mother
of two boys, Tristan, 5 and Archer, 2 and spends her day juggling kids, housework and sending out orders around New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Europe. She hopes to keep growing My Farm Lady, expanding its product
line even further to get her products into the larger farming lifestyle stores to make them more accessible to rural women. Bex Ford www.myfarmlady.co.nz
5 top tips from Celeste:
1. Believe in yourself and in your product because if you don't no one else will.
2. If you see a gap in the market don't wait for someone else to do it … do it yourself.
3. Don't let the fear of failure hold you back.
4. Get familiar with social networking. 5. Work with a business mentor.
For more information on agriculture and farming go to: www.dwn.co.nz www.ruralwomen.org www.climatechange.govt.nz www.mpi.govt.nz
Tracey Anderson and Anna Thompson of the organising committee have spent their entire adult life either working in marketing or the rural industry. The two girls have put their heads together and decided to dedicate an entire 'arm' of AgFest to celebrate the rural women.
The team at AgFest are privileged to be hosting FRIDAY 13 - SATURDAY 14 JULY
AgFest West Coast in association with Newstalk ZB
is an agricultural festival celebrating all things rural happening in Hokitika
AgFest will give people in the rural sector the opportunity to showcase their business, and to celebrate the industry and its significance to business on the West Coast
She'll be holding a series of fashion shows and ladies heading to AgFest will also discover the latest in make up and skin care, fashion, holidays, health and safety, home decor and more.
