Women Of Liebe’ has continued to follow various Liebe members throughout the year to celebrate their background, involvement, goals and aspirations living in the local agricultural region. Welcome to Tiffany Davey from Konnongorring.
In August 2018, we caught up with Tiffany to chat about her involvement in her family farming business in Konnongorring, a fifth generation prime lamb and broad acre property.
What is your background/where did you grow up? I grew up on my family’s fifth generation prime lamb and broad acre property in Konnongorring. After completing years 11 & 12 at Cunderdin Ag, I studied communications before heading off traveling around Australia for two and a half years, working on a number of properties within the pastoral industry. I returned to WA last year, where I am now based on my family’s property but work off farm as a freelance writer selling my children’s book and as an Assistant Event Coordinator at Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days.
What is your role in your farm business? I don’t work on the farm full time but my passion for our prime lamb enterprise remains unchanged and I hope to return to the property and launch a niche market selling salt bush finished lamb directly to the consumer utilising our salinity effect areas.
What do you enjoy most about living in a rural area? Regional communities provide a strong sense of belonging. I missed that a lot when I lived in the city. I never envisaged my life anywhere but in the bush, I’ve tried pursing career opportunities or studying for long periods of time in an urban area and always find myself returning out to the sticks. So I suppose it’s safe to say it’s where I belong.
What is your involvement with the Liebe Group? My family are long time members, so thanks to them I am able to attend the events Liebe host.
What have you gained through the Liebe Group? Even though I’ve been involved in the industry my whole life I have so much to learn. I was fortunate enough to focus on developing my stock handling skills whilst I worked on properties around Australia, but the broad acre world is a whole other kettle of fish. So any source of knowledge is great for me and the Liebe Group can provide that. Even though I work off farm, I still work within agriculture so it’s really important to stay involved and up to date on the forever evolving agricultural industry. Particularly if I plan on being involved in my family’s property, so Liebe is a good platform for that.
Who or what inspires you? I’ve been really fortunate to work for some fantastic bosses and some terrible ones. So my bad bosses have taught and inspired me to know the kind of leader within agriculture I do and don’t want to be. Robyn Davidson who is an author and adventurer – her memoir is a continued source of inspiration. But also the females with the industry and within my life who have paved the way for women in agriculture. Catherine Marriot is a fantastic speaker with a clear message, my dad when we are getting along (love you dad) is really passionate about sustainability – I consider myself lucky to have him and his brain full of knowledge as a mentor.
What are your life goals/aspirations? I want to continue sharing the stories for those in regional Australia, particularly those within the agricultural industry to encourage consumer awareness. I believe this industry has a long way to go in regard to sharing our story and assisting in the consumer/producer divide. So one of my biggest ambitions is to create a niche market and be the face of our own product, but for now I’m enjoying working on regional events all over Australia. I’d like to continue writing and publish another children’s book, maybe even a novel if I find the time!
What was the funniest moment of your farm life so far? I was really lucky being one of five kids and to grow up on the farm. There has been a million and one stories I could tell about life on the farm from letting poddy calves loose to trash Pops workshop, to kelpie bobsled teams down the paddock. But for some reason dad doesn’t appreciate our shenanigans as much, but all the mistakes made are usually funny a year or so later when the boss has calmed down and they become a funny story.
