INTERVIEW. Miss Agricultural France: the idea of ​​presenting herself came from her to “show that a woman’s place is not in the kitchen”

Everything is going well for Colyne Lafage. First her tractor and her passion for breeding, in particular, in an almost exclusively male world where she wants to show that women all have their place and innate qualities to showcase. By running for Miss Agricultural France, she is not only defending her own territory, but wants to encourage women to sometimes replace heels with rubber boots without losing their femininity. Confidence of a young farmer right in her boots… and her heels.

“This profession is open to everyone”

What motivated your application for this competition, did you decide it alone and do you see it as a professional springboard?

I want to show that women are not just meant to do housework. We can also do agricultural work like any other man. This profession is open to everyone.

You are a high school student with already clear ideas about your future career. You are immersed in this job. Explain to us…

I'm a senior Running and managing an agricultural business at La Vinadie high school, in Figeac. I have been working in the agricultural world for 8 years. My mother and father-in-law had dairy cows, cattle and sheep. Then my mother settled in 2023 in her own name. She fattens calves at Boulvé.

“For this competition, you have to show that you are passionate”

Many consider this profession to be almost exclusively male. For you, is this a rather “crazy” consideration or a big cliché that you absolutely want to brush aside?

I want to clear up misconceptions. My mother, a farmer, shows me that women are capable of doing better organized work, sometimes more careful. Which in no way takes away from the qualities of men.

What are the selection criteria for this competition and the qualities that must be demonstrated to win it?

For this competition, we must show that we are passionate, that we love our job and that we are not participating in this event just to win it. Winning or not is not the most important thing. It's a challenge. I want to have fun and see what happens. To vote, simply go to the Facebook page Miss and Mister France agricultural.

“The animal always gives us back what we give it”

How do you imagine your career developing? Will you one day have your farm, a ranch, a stable… in short, a structure where you will always be in contact with the animals?

Later, I want to develop my sheep-meat business. I plan to raise my sheep in my own name, or not.

You show the animal real tenderness. The affection of the cow in your photo is obvious. How did you gain his affection?

This is achieved with time and patience. If we respect the animal and show it such an attitude, it will respect us in return. You have to take good care of it and not mistreat it. The animal always gives back what we give it. He is grateful for everything we have accomplished for him.

“My mother is definitely the person I don’t want to disappoint.”

Let's cast a wide net: who are your female role models in life, your sources of inspiration? In summary, who is your heroine and why?

I don't have a particular role model, but I can say that my heroine in life is my mother. This is my example. She is the one I want to make proud of my development and the success of my projects. My mother is really the person I don't want to disappoint as her help has been invaluable to me.

Whatever the result of this election, what path do you want to make in the agricultural world? What message do you want to sow?

I want to show that women can take on any challenge in any field and that a woman farmer can be a very feminine person.

“When we see how farmers are paid, it’s not very reassuring”

He who does not plant cannot grow in life: this is also an agricultural truth. We don't succeed at everything. How do you take advantage of failures or difficulties in breeding?

Some failures can be very heartbreaking when they involve animals and their lives. When you try to save a cow and you don't succeed, it makes you very sad. Some cows or sheep do not resist epidemics. We're getting over it, but we're thinking about it.

Farmers once again testify to their great difficulties. Are you afraid for your own future?

Yes, that scares me. When we see how farmers are paid, it's not very reassuring. It is not encouraging to see the margins of supermarkets on agricultural products. The charges that weigh on farmers, or even the prices of feed to care for calves, are frightening.

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What should you never say to yourself so as not to get screwed?

You should never tell me that a woman's place is in the kitchen!