Farmer 'proud' to be up for national dairy award

Judy Dilks says she is proud to be one of three women shortlisted for the award

A farmer has been named as a finalist for an award celebrating the achievements of women in the British dairy industry.

Judy Dilks, 65, runs Hassop Family Farm in Derbyshire and is one of three women in the UK shortlisted for the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Dilks said she wants to represent women in farming and said increased participation of women is "vital" for the future of the industry, as they "bring new skills and innovations to the sector".

She added that she had a "passion" for educating people on where food comes from, including children.

Ms Dilks said: "Food is so readily available in supermarkets, but people still don't understand where it's come from or how it's got there, so I think it's important that every farmer should promote British food and farming and explain about traceability and the sustainability."

She said there were also "lots of challenges with women in farming".

"One thing you have to learn to juggle," Ms Dilks said.

"You just have to juggle alongside doing the farm work, paperwork, inspections, looking after shop, looking after customers. You're always busy, but I love it and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Ms Dilks wants to make sure young people know where their food is coming from

Ms Dilks has been farming for 40 years, but said she "never really sat down and thought about what I do until I'd been nominated".

"I just do it," she added. "I'm very, very passionate about it."

"Women have always been been in the background of farming. But now there's great opportunities out there for women, equally as good as men."

Ms Dilks said although farming was "a fantastic way of life", there were "lots of challenges.

She said: "Every year is different. Every day is different. Things go wrong regularly. The weather has a great impact. Staffing has become a growing problem. No one wants to work long hours or weekends. But do you know what? It's still the best."

The winner of the award will be announced at the Women in Dairy conference on 17 September.