Ms Hodgkinson made a number of presentations to community leaders at a ‘Farwell to the Burrinjuck Electorate’ community morning tea at the Yass Memorial Hall.

Jane Southwell is a pioneer for the Canberra District and a fourth generation wool producer. She was acknowledged for her contribution to agriculture through her small business Farm Animal Resource Management (FARM).

Established in 1994, FARM promotes the importance of agriculture in an increasingly urbanised community through the management of farm animal displays where people could experience modern agriculture and interact with real farmers.

“Jane is an outstanding rural woman of the Burrinjuck Electorate and NSW,’ Ms Hodgkinson said.

“She is a business owner, an employer, an entertainer, an educator and a story-teller. And like so many other rural woman I meet throughout NSW, Jane is hard-working, creative, humble, resilient and determined.

“Through her work to promote the importance of agriculture by taking the paddock to the playground, Jane has made an outstanding contribution to agriculture.”

Ms Hodgkinson said that Jane has been a passionate advocate for the agriculture industry for over 30 years.

“What started as a taking her children’s’ poddy lamb to their school in Canberra in the 1980’s has become a lifetime dedicated to promoting the industry and providing consumers with an opportunity to learn more about farming,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

For more photos and details from the Farewell to Burrinjuck event, pick up a copy of Wednesday's Tribune.