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PANNAR Women’s Month: In the Spotlight, Linde Meintjes6 August 2018

August is Women’s Month and to celebrate, PANNAR will be featuring five wonderful ladies in agriculture over the course of five weeks.

Next up in the PANNAR spotlight, is the radiant Linde Meintjes. 

Where do you live/farm?

I live in a region called the Mkushi Farm Block in central Zambia. Mkushi is an area covering about 100km by 40km. About 100+ commercial farmers and their families live here. We all use irrigation from dams and rivers in our farming operations.

Wat is your occupation?

Housewife/Mother/Secretary/Photographer/Homemaker/Farmer’s Wife

Did you grow up on the farm?

I am a city girl that married a farm boy at age 20. Now, 29 years later we are still married. I often joke that I am not truly a “boervrou” but rather the wife of a farmer.

How are you currently involved in farming?

We run a family farm. My husband is in charge with the farm manager being his right (and left!) hand on the grain crop farming and Macadamia trees side. Our eldest daughter is a veterinary physiotherapist and all the cattle, sheep and Kalahari Red Goats, as well as horses are in her capable hands. Our middle daughter is our housekeeper and secretary at our tomato farm. I take care of all our admin and finances – and I also take loads of photos of all the happenings on and around our farm! 

Who is your biggest role model?

I can’t pinpoint just one. Why? I have learnt so much about farming and farm life from ordinary people. My biggest role model, spiritually speaking, is God.

What do you love most about farm life?

I like this question. The wonder of planting and harvesting. Every sunrise and sunset. It is a busy, but peaceful and fulfilling life.

Tell us more about your children. How did growing up on the farm play a role in who they are today?

I am a mother of three beautiful daughters! Allé is 27, Ilke is 25 and Mia 21. They grew up in Zambia, where I home-schooled them – well until they became cleverer than their mother!  After home-schooling they all attended boarding school in South Africa, where they also went on to university. Mia is currently still at university in Cape Town.

Farming played a significant role in how my children were raised. They all love the farm life and have learnt to be strong, independent women from a young age. They understand that when farming you get more out than you put in – that is if you work hard. Farming also gave them the freedom to think outside the box.

How do you see the role of women in farming?

Women bring an element of softness to the often-challenging reality that is farming.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Where do I see myself in five years? The more important question is where do I see myself now! I believe that one should make the most of the present moment and that the future will take care of itself. Ask my husband the same question about his farming goals though and he will write pages for you!

Anything else you would like to mention?

To be a farmer’s wife in Zambia is not for Foschini girls!

You can follow Linde’s journey via her Instagram account @LindeBPhotography.

COMPETITION TIME: Join PANNAR in our Women's Month tribute and upload a photograph of a special lady who is involved in agriculture (in any shape or form) and deserves to be mentioned. You can find more information here.

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