Women in Agriculture event celebrates innovation, resilience and leadership at Doddington Hall
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 20 March 2026
UPDATED: 23 March 2026
More than 100 women from across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands gathered at Doddington Hall on Tuesday 17 March for one of the region’s most anticipated rural sector events: the latest Women in Agriculture forum, held in support of the Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy.
Now in its sixth year, the event has grown from a small networking idea into a platform championing the contribution of women across farming, food production, land management and the broader rural economy. This year’s focus – “women shaping the future of agriculture” – spotlighted the innovation and resilience driving the sector forward at a time of rapid legislative, environmental and economic change.
Attendees heard from a powerful group of speakers sharing professional insights and personal journeys, including: Bailey Elliott, Farm Manager at A. E. Lenton’s, Friskney; Jessica Spencer Cooper, fourth‑generation farmer and Sales & Marketing Manager at Spring Lane Farm Shop, Nottinghamshire; and Jane Lane, diversified rural business owner and founder of the Orton Fells Farm Cluster in Norfolk and Cumbria. Bee Barton-Broomhead, CLA East Regional Adviser and Lynette Swinburne, Planner at Savills based across Lincolnshire, the East Midlands and the East of England honed in on policy, providing a topical update on rural and planning policy specifically.
The event was compered by Kelly Hewson-Fisher, Director and Head of Rural Research at Savills.
Discussions ranged from practical farm management and the realities of climbing the ladder without a farming background, to the pressures facing diversified family businesses, to opportunities emerging around sustainability, biodiversity and collaborative land management.
For organisers Savills, Shakespeare Martineau, Forrester Boyd, the CLA and the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, the event marks another step in the continued expansion of the Women in Agriculture network – now recognised as one of the most inclusive and forward-thinking rural forums in the region.
Romina Llorente, Director and Head of Rural Management at Savills in Lincoln, said:
“Every year, this event becomes more dynamic and more relevant. The challenges facing the agricultural sector are evolving at pace – from environmental policy to food supply chain volatility – and women are increasingly at the forefront of shaping how our region responds.
“What makes this event so powerful is the mix of people in the room: farmers building businesses from the ground up, professionals working across policy and research, next‑generation leaders carving new paths, and women returning to agriculture with fresh perspectives. Events like this aren’t just networking – they are catalysts for collaboration, confidence and change.”
A key theme this year was the diversity of entry routes into agriculture. Delegates heard how Bailey Elliott, the first winner of the Michael Peacock Rising Talent Award, went from having no farming background to securing her dream role as a farm manager through determination, upskilling and an unwavering passion for the industry.
Likewise, Jessica Spencer Cooper offered a vivid snapshot of running a fourth‑generation farm alongside a thriving retail and hospitality enterprise, highlighting both the pressures and opportunities of diversification.
This year’s event was held in support of the Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy, which provides pastoral, practical and emotional support to the rural community. The charity’s work has become increasingly vital as farmers navigate unprecedented levels of uncertainty.
Further events, ranging from farm walks to panel discussions, are planned throughout the year to support continuing conversations around resilience, environmental stewardship, sustainable food production and the evolving role of women in the rural sector.
