PHYSICAL and mental strength are important characteristics for the men and women who work the land. Livestock farmer Ceri Ratcliffe acknowledges that her male counterparts might have the edge when it comes to muscle power but she can always work out an alternative approach when sheer strength presents a barrier to getting a job done.

“The strength part is probably the greatest challenge of being a woman in farming but you manage somehow, you have to find ways around it and I do,’’ says Ceri, Wales Woman Farmer of the Year, who farms 180 acres at Connah’s Quay, Flintshire.

She is ably assisted by her sheepdogs, which she trains. “Sheep will soon know if you haven’t got a dog, they will work it out if it’s only you and a quad. They know they are beaten if you have a dog.’’

Ceri’s husband, Andy, presented her with her first puppy when she was 21. She embarked on a course to train the pup and over the years has trained a dozen or more dogs.

“Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, I had some real battles with that first pup but this has meant that all the dogs I had after her were a doddle to train.’’

Andy works off-farm, running his own plant hire business, so 90% of the day-to-day running of the farm is Ceri’s responsibility.

The enterprise comprises of a flock of 600 Texel Mule and purebred Beltex ewes and 100 beef cattle, purchased as three-week-old calves and sold as stores or finished, depending on market demand at that time.

The ewes are sired to Beltex, Texel or Charollais rams and lamb indoors in March, with lambs sold at Mold or St Asaph livestock markets. Cattle are also sold live, either at Mold or privately.

“I prefer the live markets, you know what you are getting paid and you can say yes or no to the price,’’ says Ceri.

She had been working in a hunting yard when she met Andy and had no background in farming. Andy was working on a farm at the time. After they married they established a small flock of 18 sheep.

“The business grew and grew to the point where one of us needed to give up work to run it full time. Andy was the main earner so I gave up my job,’’ Ceri recalls. Twenty years later, she enjoys farming as much now as she did then.

It is not just livestock that absorb Ceri’s energy. She has two children, 11-year-old Iwan, and Aled, aged four. “They came out onto the farm with me as babies in their prams. They love the farm and it’s great for them. They muck in but when they get bored they will start playing football in the field.’’

Another role she has acquired this year was unplanned. Ceri is the 2015 NFU Cymru/Principality Building Society Wales Woman Farmer of the Year, thanks in part to her mother-in-law.

“She nominated me and I didn’t know anything about it until NFU Cymru contacted me to tell me I had been shortlisted. I was fuming with my mother-in-law at the time because I’m not one for fuss. I don’t think I spoke to her for several days but she thought the whole thing was hilarious!’’

Ceri convinced herself she wouldn’t win so soon got used to the idea. “We went to the Royal Welsh Show to hear the winner being announced. My husband and sons were really excited but I was very chilled because I was still convinced I wouldn’t win. I was in complete shock when my name was read out, I nearly passed out!’’

She is proud to be a woman in farming. “When I was taking lambs to the market 20 years ago there were very few women there but that isn’t the case any more. As a woman you don’t get treated any differently and that’s the way it should be.’’