WALKING into the homely kitchen of Bargaly Farm, Newton Stewart, the first thing you notice is the array of rosettes and certificates, won over a long and successful career of cattle showing, pinned to some of the kitchen walls.

Already taken aback by just how many there are, Jane Landers, our interviewee, takes us through to the hall, where there are two more boards, covered in rosettes and certificates, “and we’ve got another board to hang somewhere, when we get the time,” she added.

It is already clear that showing cattle is the Landers family’s passion, but after spending a few hours with Jane, it is evident that it is her life, and she has spent many years perfecting the art of exhibiting livestock.

With the help of husband, Bill, and their three children, Kirsty (30), Bobby (27), and Katie (21), (plus Kirsty’s one-year-old daughter), Jane has made a name for herself in the Belted Galloway and Beef Shorthorn world. She opened up about what life has been like for her over the years, as well as her plans for the future, and the advice she has for young people looking to be successful in farming.

How did you come to be at Bargaly?
I married Bill, when I was 21, and he was 25. At that point, he had been at Bargaly on a tenancy agreement for a year, and then I moved in – and we’ve now been here for 34 years.
What kind of livestock do you have?
We have pedigree Belted Galloways and Beef Shorthorns, as well as a small bundle of North Country Cheviots, which I try to show now and again, but that gets hard because all the young helpers have moved away, and it can get difficult trying to get those much-needed extra pairs of hands.

How has your career progressed?
A number of years ago, I decided I wanted a job and wage of my own that was away from home, and so I went to Scottish Livestock Services to get into AI. I went along for an interview, and when I got there, there was a lot of men waiting to be interviewed, and so I kind of gave up hoping that I would get the job. 
When I came home, I was surprised to get a phone call from the boss. He told me: “You really sold yourself, Jane, and you might not have the qualifications, but you proved that you were the woman for the job,” and that was that.

Is there an element of sexism in the farming world?
First of all, I always say that if you want to work in the farming world as a woman, then you have to work twice as hard as the men, and I have always told Katie that she will need to be one step ahead of the boys, all the time, and she will need to be, because that’s just the way it works. An instance of when I suffered an element of sexism was when one of my AI trainers told me that he didn’t like training women because they always go off to have kids – but I already had my kids by that point, so his comments just didn’t really make any sense.
When I was doing relief AI work, I was offered the chance of working full-time, and the day before I was promoted, one of the farmers I did AI for who was fine with me, but after he heard that I was getting the area on a full-time basis, he asked me if I had slept with the boss to get it.
There is always an element of sexism there, wherever you go, but most men have been excellent with me, and at the end of the day, it’s funny how things work out, because it has sometimes been the case that those particular people, who have made certain comments, have ended up failing, while I have managed to succeed, and perhaps if those people were less negative, they would have been more successful.

How did you end up working with Belted Galloways and Beef Shorthorns?
I used to rear calves and we built up a commercial herd, but I also wanted pedigree cattle because I was brought up in the pedigree showing world.
During my AI career, I had been studying the different breeds of cattle and I liked Beef Shorthorns, and had already purchased two of them.
At the time, they were a rare-breed, and I felt they were great because they’re the kind of breed that, if I had to work alone with them, then I could, easily.
We started with the Shorthorns in 1995, and then the Belties in 2005.

Are you on any society boards?
I used to be on the Belted Galloway board of directors, and I felt that some people just didn’t like some of my ideas. I also felt that new and smaller herds should be encouraged more, and so I moved on.

Do you have any regrets?
I sometimes used to regret saying certain things, but I’m too old in the tooth now to keep my mouth shut. 
If I had to change anything, I would like to go to college, but I don’t regret the adventures, because that’s what makes you who you are.

Name one of your favourite experiences in the farming world?
A highlight for me was winning the Royal Highland Show in 2004, with Cairnsmore Trish, a home-bred Shorthorn heifer. We won a big section, and that was the first time we had ever really shown. I am pleased to say that the family line is continuing to show well.
One of our bulls also took first in his class at the Stirling bull sales one year, and what a feeling that was. I wasn’t as used to showing at that point, and it was just such a brilliant achievement.
I’ve also had the good fortune of bringing out cattle for German breeders in Berlin at the National Show in 2010, and we won the Belted Galloway and White Galloway trophies, and that was just brilliant.

How do you think the farming world needs to develop?
I think farmers need to accept the fact that women have an instinct when it comes to livestock – maybe it’s a maternal instinct – which is great for looking after livestock and bringing them out.
I think they also have to remember that you cannot make someone work with stock. If someone isn’t interested, then there is no point in making them. The interest has to be there.

What is it like to be part of the pedigree world?
Every now and again, the pedigree world keeps you on a high and keeps you going, but, at times, it can be hard, especially if you aren’t getting as many prizes as you would like.
I am so lucky that the weans are so enthusiastic and keen to work so hard.
I’ve met some great people in the pedigree world, and I love the independence of doing it on my own, and even though I enjoy that, you never really feel like you are alone in the showing world, because there is always someone there to help and support you.

Do you have plans for the future?
I am always saying to Bill that we have worked hard all these years and now it’s time for us to play. We have given the kids the best chance we can and now we want them to get on with it and do well, because they can.
In the future, I am hoping to get a brand new wee house that is easy to look after, and I would like to get to some world conferences with the pedigrees.
As well as that, I would love to one day get my wee one-year-old grand-daughter showing livestock – I think we’ll start with sheep for her.
I would also love to win a show with sheep at some point, but it’s hard to do that when we are already so busy with the Belties and the Shorthorns. I’d also love to judge abroad at some point, if the opportunity ever arises.

What advice do you have for youngsters?
What I tell everyone is: you don’t always win a prize, but there are always people out there who are interested in your breed, and keeping up with what you are doing. So you want to show the livestock to its full potential, because people might just be keeping a wee eye on you.
If you show a beast to the best of your ability, then a prize is just a bonus on top of that. It’s important that you are also well turned-out yourself, as you need to look smart when showing.
If you really want to do it and be a success, then don’t let what other people tell you get you down. Just take a step aside and then keep going.
But don’t be afraid to listen to advice. Take heed of some advice, and then throw the rest in the bin. 
Be confident in yourself, and be confident that you are able to achieve what you 
want, because if you are determined enough to do it, then you can.