15/10/2026
🌿💚 International Day of Rural Women 💚🌿
Here at Shanaghan Hill Farm, today’s celebration is close to home.
Mother and daughter Louise Skelly and Esther Skelly-Smith bring their own experience, ideas and determination to our family farm, with a shared commitment to caring for people, animals and the land.
Louise combines decades of experience in health and social care with farming and her work with the Nature Friendly Farming Network. She has helped lead our journey towards farming with nature, with soil health, good stewardship and the future of the farm firmly in mind.
Esther brings her experience as an equine veterinary surgeon, farmer and business owner, alongside her work in animal welfare, research and teaching.
Together, as part of our wider family team, they put those values into practice: caring for our sheep and horses, producing grass-fed lamb and bringing people together through Lamb & Local.
We also want to celebrate our wonderful students, many from Queen’s University Belfast. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and contribution to life here are hugely valued. Sharing knowledge and practical experience with them is an important part of what we do, and we hope their time with us helps them see the opportunities to make their own contribution to farming, animal welfare and rural life. 🎓🌱
Our farm shop carries those values forward, connecting our own produce and other local food businesses with people who want to know where their food comes from and who produces it.
Today is a chance to recognise women as farmers, business owners, professionals, students and leaders, and to encourage the next generation of girls to see a future for themselves in agriculture too.
To the women farming, studying, producing, teaching, building businesses and speaking up for our rural communities: thank you. We’re proud to be part of that community alongside you. 💚
