Par
Chantal Pape
Published on
Jan 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
“We are everyday super heroines », affirm with one voice Marie-Françoise Le Bloas and Isabelle Salomon, co-presidents, opening the departmental day of the network Agriculture for women of the Chamber of Agriculture, on November 5, at Juvénat, in Châteaulin. “Quite often we work and live in the same place and have a lot of things to manage on a daily basis.”
Their day, which they wanted to be “fun and friendly”, is a time of exchange which should allow participants to leave “stronger than when they arrived”, having gleaned, through the workshops, tips and tricks to better manage their daily lives.
Coping with mental load
To be more effective, a first workshop addresses the organization of work, the articulation between professional life and personal life, and gives some concrete avenues to cope with the mental load. A little further, the farmers become aware of the weight of agriculture on their territory and in the departmental economy, “a way of feeling useful”.
Being able to assert yourself without being afraid
They also worked on “the superpowers of relationships”, in order tobe more comfortable in their exchanges with others, neighbors, detractors… “and be able to assert oneself without being afraid.”
Veterinarian and navigator
“I was neither destined nor to become rural veterinarian in navigator “. Great witness of the day, Tiphaine Ragueneau captivated her audience, describing a journey off the beaten track. “I grew up in the city, far from the cattle which are today my daily professional life. And my parents were modest, while vet studies are long and expensive.”
No matter, the young woman knows “that’s where I want to go”, and gives itself the means. And it was at the age of 20 that she discovered the world of sailing. “I had no money, no network,” but, again, serious motivation and the desire to succeed.
His advice? “Even if we don't have the perfect profile, if we don't check all the boxes, you have to trust yourself : as long as you don't skimp on work, you can succeed! “.
-Reconcile your passions
Having graduated, she wants to continue pursuing her two passions in tandem. “But it took me a little time to come to terms with it,” admits the young woman, who ends up telling the breeders that, if she is regularly absent from the veterinary practice, it is because she takes part in offshore races.
“The welcome has always been kind. And today, my breeders are my premiers supporters. There was even a farmer who, morning and evening, connected to the Internet to know my progress.”
Swap on something else
An article in the newspaper about one of his races? “They’re going to talk to me about it. And that allows us toexchange on something else since in general, when they call us, it means something is wrong.”
Juggling offshore races, night or weekend shifts is far from simple. “For example, I cannot always do the physical preparation that I would like: I have to be on top in the event of a cesarean section or twisting of a cow.” But his two passions feed off each other. “As a veterinarian, I learned to not communicating my stress and to establish routines that allow me to reassure myself,” indicates the young woman, who also benefits from it in the practice of sailing. “On all my bags, on board, a laminated sheet indicates what is inside. In case of damage, I don’t waste time.”
“If you’re not strong, be smart”
Ocean racing also taught him teamwork. And in both of her activities, she learned to compensate. “There are things I can’t do. But I remember the adage if you’re not strong, be smart, and I adapt.” So, breeders now know that, for certain operations, it needs a 3 m rope and a pallet. “And some of them are now using my tips.”
The weight of the administrative burden
“I also had to create a company to manage ocean racing,” adds the young woman. “I discovered la charge administrative that goes with it, and I better understand the constraints of breeders.”
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