Voice. Value. Vision

Owning your path: Pattie’s life lessons for the next generation of rural women

Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Alfredton, Escalator alumna Pattie O’Boyle never imagined she’d end up building a life and career in farming. Despite her aptitude for numbers and strong connection to the land, a career in agriculture wasn’t encouraged. In the 1980s, young women were typically still being steered toward roles like nursing, teaching or likes of administrative roles and business, not agricultural science, which was still considered largely to be the domain of men

Now in her 50s, Pattie is not only living and working on the land but has also spent her career at the intersection of farming, finance, and leadership. Her story of quiet resilience, gradual ownership, and the power of lifelong learning is a reminder that there’s no single path into agriculture, and that the experiences, strengths and skills women bring, even from outside the farm gate, are not only valid, but often transferable and always vital.

Starting out: From rural banking to farm books

Pattie trained in business at Massey University, initially thinking she would become an accountant. She pivoted to valuation and property management, which opened the door to a graduate role in rural banking. It wasn’t farming, but it was close.

When she met Tony, a dairy farmer, her path shifted again. Upon entering a dairy farming family, Pattie’s progressive father-in-law handed her the books (well before succession) and said, “You probably know what you’re doing, so take it.”  This small but significant act of trust marked the beginning of her journey as a true on-farm business partner. And as Pattie reflects: “I was lucky. My in laws supported us to do things our own way, not just the way it had always been done.”

Building capability: Learn the soft skills early

Despite her tertiary education in finance and valuation, Pattie says there’s a whole other side to business ownership (and therefore leadership) that she discovered when she was well into her 40’s, which wasn’t part of her studies. That is, human psychology, communication, and understanding how to bring out the best in people.

“Most of us are taught practical skills like how to milk a cow, mend a fence, do the books. But leadership, communication, understanding people, that stuff often gets left till we’re older, or when something goes wrong. And by then we have years of habits to unpick.”

Pattie is referring to essential skills – things like how to manage different personality styles on the team, communication differences, and how to lead others. “I wish I’d learned these things in my 20s because they’re essential, especially when running a farming business with a team around you”.

For young women stepping into farming today, or indeed all young people embarking on their careers, Pattie encourages building capability beyond technical or practical skills. Even if you have to find a way beyond the courses you are doing. “Find the space to learn these human skills early, even if it feels like a ‘nice to have’ or a luxury, because it’s not,” she says.

Surround yourself with people who bring skills to the table that you don’t have

One thing Pattie and Tony did early on was seek advice and counsel from others, not just those whose services the farm had engaged for years. They actively surrounded themselves with people who could challenge them, ask the hard questions, and bring different perspectives and ways of thinking to the many different facets of farming, such as finance, legal, and strategy.

“You need those people around you to help build your confidence, but also to make sure that you have a strategic, longer-term lens over the decisions you are making. Nobody knows everything, so having people with different skillsets around the table to challenge you is incredibly important.”

Confidence is complex, but it can be built

Pattie is open about how ‘Imposter Syndrome’ has shaped her experience. “I still fight it” she says. “And I’ve been at this for decades”. During her time on AWDT’s Escalator programme, she realised how much of her inner doubt was holding her back, even when she appeared confident on the outside.

Her advice? Get real about it. “Surround yourself with people who are honest with you and remind you of what you’re capable of. And when all else fails, look at the facts. Your CV, the experience you’ve built, the decisions you’ve made. That’s real. Hold onto that.”

Choose influence over acceptance

Over the years, Pattie has stepped up to lead and influence beyond her farm gate; in governance roles, on sector committees, and through AWDT facilitation. She believes deeply in being part of shaping the decisions that impact rural communities.

“In farming, you’re constantly affected by decisions made by others, policies, rules, leadership choices. You can either accept it, or you can be part of influencing it. That’s leadership.”

She is quick to note that this kind of influence isn’t just about boardrooms and titles. It’s about showing up and having your say in any setting, whether that’s your local community, the PTA, or around the farm table.

Ownership matters

Perhaps Pattie’s most enduring piece of advice is about ownership – not just legal ownership of property or business, but ownership of outcomes.

“The sooner you take ownership of where things are going, even if that ownership is shared with others, the sooner you can shape it. You become more invested, and more deliberate. And it is so satisfying when the things you have taken ownership of start to come together.”

She adds, “This doesn’t mean doing everything alone. It means being part of the conversation, having a voice, and backing yourself to grow”.

Pattie’s final words

Today, Pattie continues to coach and mentor others through AWDT’s programmes, like Understanding Your Farming Business. What drives her is helping other women step into their power, not just on the farm but in governance, industry, and community.

Her final words to young rural women are “You don’t have to have it all figured out. I didn’t. But you do need to back yourself and keep learning, especially about yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to give you permission. You are amazing and have so much to offer. Go after those opportunities, because you’ll have better outcomes if you do!”