Stalled mulching vinyl, cultivator moving again… ‘Women can handle farm machinery well too’

The participant immediately stopped the machine and checked the condition of the plastic film. After fixing the tangled part, she started the machine again. As the mulching vinyl began to settle neatly over the ridge, the work picked up speed again. It was an unexpected situation, but she showed no sign of panic. 

This was the scene at the ‘2nd Women Farmers’ Agricultural Machinery Challenge’ held on the 9th at the Rural Human Resources Development Center of the Rural Development Administration in Jeonju, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province. Including the machinery contest and side events, 175 people from 41 teams nationwide participated. 

The competition was held in four events: △ridge-making and mulching using a cultivator △mechanical transplanting of corn using a transplanter △loading and unloading a combine harvester using hand signals △driving a tractor connected to a trailer through a ‘ㄷ’-shaped course. In addition, the side event ‘Farm Work Runway,’ demonstrating safe behavior in farm work, brought both tension and laughter from participants throughout the venue.
 

Perfectly timed transplanting with coordinated hands and feet… “Exchanging glances gave us a sense of stability”

After ridge-making and mulching, participants’ hands moved even faster as mechanical corn transplanting began. While the transplanter advanced at a steady speed, participants exchanged glances instead of words to match the timing of transplanting. Since a moment’s coordination could determine the work speed and results, they kept their eyes on each other’s hand movements. 

One team drew attention by finishing the two events a step ahead of the others. It was Team Yegajeongseong from Yesan, South Chungcheong Province. Team member Jeon Jin-hee said, “With guidance and support from the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services, we practiced about eight hours a day.” She added, “I was very nervous, but when we faced each other and exchanged glances, I felt stable and could do well.” 

Among the participants gathered from across the country, women farmers from overseas also stood out. The Global Hanmaeum Team (Namwon Agricultural Cooperative), which participated from Namwon, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, included women farmers from Russia and Vietnam.

Bang Tatyana from Russia said, “I did well during practice, but I was nervous in the actual competition, so it did not go well, which was disappointing.” Lee Jia from Vietnam said, “There are so many strong teams that I don’t think we’ll win a prize,” but added, “Still, it was a fun experience.” The Global Hanmaeum Team received a special award that day.
 

Communicating with hand signals, steering the trailer… Teamwork is also a skill

Teamwork became even more important in the subsequent combine loading and unloading and tractor course driving events. In particular, during combine loading and unloading, because it is difficult for the driver to check the surroundings directly, team members guided the driver with hand signals they had practiced in advance. 

Another difficulty appeared while passing through the ‘ㄷ’-shaped course with a trailer connected to the tractor. In the reversing section, it was not easy to control the direction of the trailer, and some participants were seen moving back and forth to readjust their path. Some participants were rather tense, but soon found their pace and completed the assigned course one section at a time.

For Park Da-gyeom of Team Femme Fatale, who competed in tractor course driving, this contest meant more than a simple competition. Park, who had never driven a tractor before preparing for the event, said, “Although I farm, women are not often trusted with farm machinery, so I had never even ridden a tractor.” She added, “Through this competition, I think it will become an opportunity for not only me but women in general to gain confidence that we can handle farm machinery well.”

The preparation process was not easy either. Park said, “Because our team members came from all over the country, we gathered at the RDA Rural Human Resources Development Center and practiced from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.” She added, “It was a little disappointing because it was hard to gather from far away and we could not practice in our cities and counties, but once we tried it in the actual competition, it went better than expected.” 
 

The final stage, ‘Farm Work Runway,’ wearing work clothes and protective gear 

After the morning contest ended, the atmosphere at the venue changed. Right after lunch, the ‘Farm Work Runway’ continued, and work clothes and safety protective gear, rather than farm machinery, became the stars of the stage. 

Eleven teams took the stage and presented safe work outfits in their own ways. Each stage carried the message that safety should become a daily habit in farm work, just as much as the skills needed to handle farm machinery. 

Cho Tae-woo of Team Nongsakkumi, which won the silver prize, explained, “We showed the entire process before grass-cutting work while wearing work clothes and safety protective gear, delivering the message that ‘agriculture must be safe for agriculture to continue.’”

The preparation process was not easy for them either. Cho said, “Because everyone has their own livelihood, we could not meet in advance to coordinate, and we finalized everything on the morning of the event.” He added, “Fortunately, the judges responded well, so I was happy we could win an award.”

Even after the machinery stopped and the event ended, the meaning of the competition stayed with the participants. From making ridges and laying plastic film to operating transplanters, combines and tractors, what the participants showed was not merely the ability to operate farm machinery. This competition was a place to read one another’s signals, respond calmly to unexpected situations and, above all, personally confirm the confidence that ‘women can handle farm machinery well too.’ 
 

Meanwhile, the grand prize in the agricultural machinery contest category (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award) went to the Gyeongbuk T404 Team. Gold prizes went to four teams: Haenaru, Yegajeongseong, Seomjingang Motors and Jinju Akbari. Silver prizes went to seven teams: Jilpung Yeogeol, Energy Yeonggwang, Hamhaebokka, Gaya Yeogeol, Ttaengcho Nuyadeul, Jeju Geotdeul and Young KK. Bronze prizes went to eight teams: Makmugane, Yeongnong Hogeol, Femme Fatale, Let’s Goyang, Gear Queens, Wave-Riding Beach Girls, Eumseong Dream and Army Sergeant.

The gold prize in the runway category (Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award) went to the Goyang Farmers Team of Gyeonggi Province, which created an original and stylish stage using wearables. Silver prizes (Rural Human Resources Development Center Director’s Award) went to two teams, Green Runway and Nongsakkumi, while bronze prizes went to three teams: Homiroun Yeoju, Cheonmamone and Jinju Hamo.

In the shorts contest category, five teams won prizes: Let’s Goyang, Jilpung Yeogeol, Jangsu Aein, Jinju Akbari and Femme Fatale. Special awards in the agricultural machinery contest category went to 10 teams: AgriForce, Yeoin Cheonha Ajimaedeul, Gamja Bawoo, Danpung Miin, Jangsu Aein, Avengers 4, Power Woman, Sejong Clutch, Global Hanmaeum and Nongrini.