Ms. Dilks expressed her deep passion for educating the public, especially children, about the origins of their food. She highlighted a significant disconnect where people do not understand where their food comes from, despite its ready availability in supermarkets. In her view, it is crucial for every farmer to promote British food and farming, emphasizing the importance of traceability and sustainability as key themes for the industry’s future.

In her remarks, Ms. Dilks also acknowledged the unique challenges that women face in farming. She described the necessity of “juggling” multiple responsibilities, from farm labor to paperwork, inspections, and customer service in the farm shop. Despite these constant pressures, she expressed a profound love for her work, stating that she “wouldn’t have it any other way” and is “very, very passionate about it.”

The article also captured her perspective on the evolving role of women in the sector. She observed that historically, women have often remained in the “background of farming.” However, she believes that there are now fantastic opportunities for women that are “equally as good as men,” signaling a positive shift in the industry’s gender dynamics and reinforcing the growing contribution of women to agribusiness.