Women in the young farmers’ community have shared their experiences of a culture in which sexual assault and harassment is normalised after a report on The Blackpool Lead shed light on misogynistic behaviour at the Young Farmers DIY AGM on May bank holiday in Blackpool.
Campaigners from Reclaim Blackpool, the activism group that physically maps instances of sexual harassment in the town, shared with The Blackpool Lead how local women avoid Blackpool when the Young Farmers arrive en masse for their twice-annual events in the town.
Women reported stories of catcalling and sexual assault by Young Farmers on reclaimblackpoolmap.co.uk over May bank holiday and many others complained about the slogans on polo shirts worn by attendees to the event, some of which threatened sexual violence.
Our coverage led to Farmers Weekly editor Abi Kay following up on the story, along with coverage across titles including The Times, The Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2.
In her initial report Kay spoke to female young farmers who shared their first-hand experiences within the community. Some said that behaviour that they would deem inappropriate outside of the community is accepted at young farmer events where there are “different rules”.
“In terms of sexual assault or sexual harassment, I’ve experienced that in a nightclub,” Helen told Kay. “Have I experienced that in Young Farmers? Also yes, but I’ve never thought of it as that.
“Being grabbed, being pulled, people pulling your skirt up, people taking your top up – if somebody did that in another setting, it’s a different story and I don’t understand why that is.”
The post sparked a huge reaction online. Holly Vickery, now a Harper Adams lecturer, wrote a thread on Twitter about being “ostracised” from the young farmers’ community.
“I made the mistake of falling asleep on a bus – I woke up having my top undone and hands up my skirt. That wasn’t even ‘that bad’,” she said.
“Every night out came with unwelcome touching, and you were labelled ‘frigid’ and ‘boring’ if you said anything.
Another woman described a man telling her 18-year-old daughter he would “happily rape four women” on the bus back from an event.
Farmers Weekly has also received a series of private messages detailing allegations including spiking at young farmers’ events and the non-consensual recording and subsequent sharing of sexual acts.
One woman shared a story from this year’s event in Blackpool where she claimed a DJ at a popular nightclub encouraged young female farmers who were sitting on men’s shoulders to take their tops off.
A slogan at the event in May. Credit: The Blackpool Lead
“You could see most of them didn’t want to and quickly jumped down. A few girls did as a joke but I’m sure it was heavily alcohol influenced. But when they took there tops off, he shouted at them to take their bras off! Literally chanting and the boys all round her were too. I literally stood still, mouth open in shock that a middle aged man was belittling her to take her bra off in front of around 200 people.
“I’m not a massive feminist but this really disgusted me and made me think how disrespectful it is to sexually objectify these young girls in front of of all of these lads… I don’t think I’d go back to another DIY AGM.”
Reclaim Blackpool also received a report from a young female farmer who said she suffered catcalling and abuse at the DIY AGM and said she believed it is an inherent part of farming culture that “happens all the time”.
“I genuinely and wholeheartedly believe that the levels of sexual harassment, violence, and assault in our industry are so bad because our men are given the opportunities to exert ultimate control over animals,” she said.
“They are allowed to impregnate animals daily regardless of whether they want it or not, and they prepare animals for slaughter. It’s the ultimate form of masculinity wrapped up in permission given by people who create demand for our products.
“One day I will have the strength to leave this industry but right now, I have nothing without it. So if I have to suffer sexual harassment and abuse, I’ll have to accept that as an occupational hazard.”
In an opinion piece Kay wrote: “It is astonishing that many farming women expect the men in their communities to display a lower standard of behaviour than other men. They are not being held accountable in the same way.
“It is hard to believe that this behaviour, at industry entry-level, will not have long-lasting consequences. It will surely affect how both men and women view the world, their workplace and their relationships. One girl told me it had taken years to build her confidence back up after being used as ‘a toy’ by drunk men at young farmers’ events.”
The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, which does not endorse the Blackpool AGM, said it was “is deeply saddened” by the reports of sexual harassment and assault.
“Behaviour of this nature is unacceptable and all reported cases are always treated extremely seriously by NFYFC,” it said.
The Young Farmers Community, which hosts the DIY AGM reminded attendees to be “mindful about what they put on the back of their polo shirts and how that message could be perceived”. The YFC itself prints the polo shirts in question, however, with slogans submitted by customers.
Reclaim Blackpool is calling on the Blackpool Council-owned Winter Gardens and all venues in Blackpool to introduce a dress code for young farmers’ events, banning misogynistic slogans. It has also called on the NFYFC and YFC to introduce a code of conduct. It encourages young women who have experienced sexual harassment or assault in the town to share their story at reclaimblackpoolmap.co.uk.
Reclaim Blackpool activist Rachel Knowles said: “The women who have shared their stories about young farmers on our map have set in motion a huge national response and what looks to be a moment of reckoning for young farmers’ organisations. This shows the power of sharing our stories and we hope some positive and lasting change comes from this for women both in farming and in Blackpool.
“We would now like to see venues in Blackpool taking action too, and we ask more women to come forward and share their experiences on our map. The work we do is vital in getting female voices heard. The more of us who speak out, the more change we can make.”
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