Celebrating our Women on International Women’s Day
Colleen McCrindle
As we bring the 2026 International Women’s Day celebrations to a close, we want to shine a light on the incredible women who make up our voluntary committee board. Their dedication, passion, and hard work drive everything we do at Women in Agriculture Scotland, and their impact is felt across our entire community.
In the 11 days leading up to International Women’s Day, we shared on social media the ways our committee members weave self‑love into their daily lives — a reminder that caring for ourselves is a vital part of caring for our sector and each other.
Here are their stories — honest, inspiring, and beautifully reflective of the strength, compassion, and resilience that define women in agriculture.
Heather Clark
Heathers day always starts at 5.30am in the gym with a quick 5k and a workout class. It’s become a non-negotiable part of her morning routine, not just for physical fitness, but for her mental health too. She nips home and enjoys a quick coffee before anyone else in the house wakes up! It sets Heather up for the day ahead and gives her that 5 minutes breathing space.
The working day is fast-paced and varied, filled with client meetings across processing sites, the agri-food integrated supply chain, and occasionally a truly glorious landed estate. Every day brings engaging, real value-add conversations, exactly the kind of work that keeps things exciting.
After work, it’s straight home to make dinner and catch up on the latest gossip with Heathers teenage daughter, before switching hats again as football coach for her son’s team.
The day usually ends back at home, straight into her pj’s, watching more football, this time with her husband and getting ready to do it all over again the next morning.
Alison Ross
Alison’s day starts with tending to her Bluefaced Leicester flock who are currently busy lambing. She then heads on down to the neep park for her daily work out pooin neeps and filling up the farm’s honesty neep box.Then it’s a quick dash over to the neighbouring village to visit her younger son who has a disability but lives independently. After a coffee, natter and a game of drafts with her son, Alison heads home for lunch with husband Brian, and her their two dogs, Maggie and Maisie. She takes this time to breathe and enjoy the stunning Cairngorm views around their farm.
Next she dons her nursing uniform and heads off to do a 7 hour shift. Alison works in a local carehome and at this time of year has a particular passion for taking lambs (in nappies!) into visit residents as a means of pet therapy. Alison is also a retired midwife and is famous in the North East for being the community midwife who rocks up at births in white leathers and a motor bike. This is Alison to the core! She also marked 50 years of nursing service last year which is surprising as she doesn’t look a day over 21.
Enroute home it’s another quick visit to the lambing tunnels to see what’s going on. On nights when Alison isn’t working, she can be found joining committee meetings in her roles with Women in Agriculture Scotland and the Scottish Tennant Farmers Association.
Her day finishes with a gin and dog cuddles before doing it all again tomorrow!
Sandra Guthrie
Working in an office means that after a long day at work, getting outside for a walk or a run is really important for Sandra, if she’s not running around the streets of Edinburgh, she’s at home at the farm, exercising around the roads of Perthshire – it’s true there really is no place like home!!
At the weekends, Sandra is usually found catching up with friends or planning trips away, something she has been much better at the last year with trips to Thailand, Ireland and Potugal!
2025 personally was a tough year for Sandra and she wouldn’t have got through the year without her family, some lessons that life can be short so make the most of it and try to challange yourself! They are a massive part in Sandra’s life and she feels so lucky that they are so close – so spending time with them can be one of the highlights to Sandra’s week!
Lauren Cooke
Lauren is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the busy Land and Rural Business Team at Gillespie Macandrew. She finds her job very rewarding (she enjoys a challenge!) and loves the work that she does to help her clients, but she knows how important it is to find time unwind.
Being lucky enough to live in Orkney, she gets outdoors as often as she can and goes for long walks in the beautiful countryside with her husband and their dog, Lola. The stunning local beaches are particular favourite spots!
During the winter months, she really enjoys finding time to sit by the fire with a cuppa and a good book. She also recommends mindfulness magazines, such as Breathe or The Simple Things, for a bit of light escapism.
Lauren is also a fan of a bit of karaoke with friends at local karaoke rooms and finds that belting out a power ballad is an excellent stress reliever! What she lacks in talent, she makes up for in enthusiasm…
Katy Argo
Katy’s day begins with a quiet coffee and a scan of her inbox, reviewing emails and responding to clients and colleagues before prioritising the matters ahead. From advising a crofting landlord on a crofter’s right to buy, to reporting on offers for farms and discussing the relinquishment of secure agricultural tenancies, her hours are shaped by careful conversations and considered advice.
When the work is done, she trades her desk for the shoreline. A walk along the beach with the dog — often listening to The Mel Robbins Podcast or Short History Of… — helps her clear her head and draw a line under the day.
Evenings are for slowing down properly. With a cup of tea and a few chapters of The Wedding People by Alison Espach, she takes a moment for herself — a simple ritual that helps her reset and be ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Lucy Thomson
Life is always busy for Lucy, so knowing what helps reduce her stress levels is key. Working full-time in the red meat sector supplying a premium retailer keeps Monday to Friday hectic, but the best job in the world is being Mum to her little boy, Hugh!
Lucy’s go‑to self‑love essentials:
Getting out for a walk with her dog and trying to hit her daily step goal!
Talking to friends and keeping catch‑ups in the diary
Spending quality time as a family and making memories together!
Hannah McIntosh
Hannah loves that the variety in her caseload means no two days are ever the same. The work is consistently interesting, and she is always being challenged to try something new and expand her skills. Outside of work, she enjoys going out for dinner with her partner, Pete, getting back home to Stranraer to see her family whenever she can, and heading to gigs.
When Hannah is feeling stressed or needs a little time to reset after work, her go-to is a long bath with a good book. She also finds that going for walks and spending quality time catching up with friends and family makes a real difference to her wellbeing.
Iona Smith
Iona starts each day the same way — with a cup of tea and a moment to herself before the pace begins. Whether it’s heading to the gym or going for a brisk walk, she focuses on moving her body before the working day starts. That early routine sets the tone, giving her energy and clarity before stepping into her role as a Monitor Farm Regional Advisor.
Her 9–5 is anything but quiet. The role involves plenty of client-facing work, organising events, coordinating meetings, and constantly engaging with people. Iona thrives in this fast-paced environment and enjoys a lifestyle that keeps her on her toes. No two days are ever the same, and that variety is something she values deeply.
When the working day ends, the pace doesn’t slow down. Iona heads out to check on her Shorthorn cattle before moving to the parlour for her relief milking job — proudly and unapologetically cow daft. A typical day often finishes around 10pm, coming full circle with another well-earned cuppa to wind down.
Self-care remains central to how she manages her busy life. Sport plays a huge role in this — from rugby the gym to swimming — providing both a physical outlet and mental reset. Another of Iona’s top priorities is spending time with family and friends, she values this very highly.
Alongside her love for agriculture and sport is an equally strong love for travel. Iona has set herself the goal of visiting 30 countries by the age of 30 — and with 21 already explored, she is well on her way. Travel offers perspective, adventure, and a reminder that life is about experiences as much as achievements.
Balancing such a full schedule requires discipline, but also mindfulness. For Iona, it’s about appreciating the small rituals — a quiet cup of tea, the satisfaction of a productive day, the joy of working with livestock, or the excitement of planning the next trip. While her days are long and busy, they are purposeful!
Colleen McCrindle
Colleen begins each morning the same way she has for more than twenty years — long before the emails, inspections and paperwork of the day begin. The first priority is feeding, mucking out and turning out the donkey and Shetland pony she has had since she was young. From there, it’s on to the dogs and then the sheep.
In her role as an RPID Inspector, no two days are ever alike. She could be out on farms surrounded by livestock, or surrounded by paperwork and assessments.
Her favourite part of the job is speaking with farmers who have a shared passion for agriculture.
It’s a role that demands attention to detail and professionalism, yet it also offers a genuine connection.
When the working day ends, the second shift begins- at home, a flock of 600 sheep awaits. Colleen and her partner have recently taken on a contract farming agreement, so life is getting busier as they build their dream.
With both of them working full-time off farm to support that dream, life is undeniably busy. Mornings, evenings and weekends revolve around livestock, and with lambing season fast approaching – it’s only going to get more lively!
Self care for Colleen is taking the time to get her head stuck in a book – preferably in the summer sunshine with her pet lambs!
It’s also taking the time to go off farm for regular shopping trips with her grandmother, or making the most of quiet days on the farm with her partner and heading out an adventure.Colleen’s life is undeniably busy, built around agriculture both professionally and personally.
Yet within the early mornings, late nights and full weekends, she has learned that caring for herself is just as important as caring for her animals.
Julie McLaren
Julie’s days are a whirlwind in the best “I’m full-on and busy” way. One moment she’s out on farms for her bank job, living her best muddy‑boots‑meets‑business‑brain life, and the next she’s deep in laptop mode handling client lending requests. Add in WiAS admin, meetings, and social media magic, and honestly… her schedule needs its own diary. It’s all go, go, go — and she handles it like a woman who knows her worth.
But in a world where everyone is sprinting through their to‑do lists, self‑love isn’t just a cute idea — it’s essential. We’re so good at putting others first that we forget the very important person in the mirror. Julie gets it. She knows that looking after herself isn’t selfish; it’s smart.
Her self‑love comes in many delightful forms. Sometimes it’s her daily pilgrimage to the Starbucks drive‑thru, where the coffee is strong and the vibes are peaceful.
Sometimes it’s a glorious solo holiday abroad — one woman, one suitcase, and absolutely no responsibilities. Both give her space to breathe, reset, and enjoy the luxury of doing nothing at all.
She also loves packing her calendar with trips near and far with her favourite people, and she will happily dance her socks off at any gig she can get tickets for.
And yes — she was that absolute legend who saw Oasis three times last year. Julie doesn’t just make memories; she collects them like trophies.
Cora Cooper
Between raising three children, caring for a 5,000-acre hill estate with 3,500 ewes, and contributing to the many groups she’s part of, Cora has mastered the art of spinning plates.
Amid the demands of farm life and family, she makes time to pause, reflect, and reconnect. As a business owner, she leads by example, knowing that stepping back isn’t falling behind — it’s often where clarity, renewed energy, and perspective are found. She believes women, especially, must be careful not to lose themselves in life’s beautiful chaos; making space to breathe isn’t indulgent, it’s empowering.
For Cora, wellbeing begins outdoors. Immersing herself in nature — noticing the light, the wind, the rhythm of the land — helps her reset. Though she enjoys art and museums, it’s the wide skies and rolling hills that truly fill her cup, reminding her that beauty can always be found in the everyday.
Together, we continue to grow a Scotland where every woman in agriculture feels valued, connected, and empowered. Thank you for being part of the WiAS story — and for shaping the future with such courage and heart.