Miriam, a 27-year-old hen breeder is passionate about her profession. She has made her way in the poultry industry, running a free-range hen farm. With 500 hens in her care, Miriam handles everything from feeding and cleaning the chicken coop to collecting the eggs. She even makes home deliveries, a part of her job that she particularly enjoys—interacting with customers and having direct contact with them as she delivers the fresh eggs. “That is when I can provide information about the eggs or the hen breeding process. I enjoy this close contact with my customers“, Miriam explains.
Miriam’s passion for animals started early, mainly influenced by her veterinarian aunt. Although she has a degree in Business and Economics, she was constantly drawn to starting a business with animals. After graduation, Miriam and her boyfriend decided to venture into chicken farming, choosing Colle di Seta as the location for their farm.
Miriam is very open about the obstacles she faced when starting her business, including navigation of bureaucratic issues and lack of information for people new to poultry farming. Additionally, Miriam faced scepticism from others, who questioned why she would transition from studying business to working in agriculture. “It made me feel bad at first”, she admits. However, her determination and love for animals kept her going. Another challenge was building the farm’s infrastructure with the chicken coops. Miriam had to start from scratch, but she succeeded.
Miriam’s family was one of the most valuable supports throughout these difficulties. “Talking about my project with my relatives gave me strength”, she says. Their advice was helpful, and I was lucky to have their support”. Miriam advises anyone pursuing their own business to surround themselves with people who can offer support and, most importantly, to be determined. “When a project becomes real, even if it’s small at first, it makes you happy“, she reflects.
Miriam is proud of how far she has come on her own. She credits the GRASS CEILING project for offering her new opportunities and connections with other women who share similar struggles and aspirations. “It was a great opportunity for me”, she says. “I met so many women I didn’t know before, and it helped me focus on my project and explore ways to evolve”.
Miriam’s journey teaches us that even small beginnings can lead to significant achievements. “Jump into whatever you want to do”, she advises. “Even if it’s difficult at first, it’s worth it. And always talk about your ideas, thoughts, and emotions—sharing them with others is important”.