Rural life is at the heart of everything Ann Orr is involved in whether it is organising Fermanagh County Show, taking entries from pedigree Charolais cattle breeders for forthcoming shows and sales or just simply helping out in her local community of Topped Mountain or the quaint little country church at Coolbuck.

Born and reared in this scenic part of Fermanagh, Ann has never left her roots and despite her need to travel to show meetings and agricultural events across Northern Ireland, she still enjoys coming back home to Cloghtogle Road.

Ann’s involvement in rural life has earned her a nomination as one of the 20 Community Heroes in conjuction with Fermanagh Trust’s 20th anniversary.

Over a number of decades of work, she has helped to pioneer the role of women in agriculture and rural business, introduced new events and programmes at Fermanagh County Show and is widely respected throughout the agricultural scene in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as the show is affiliated to both the Northern Ireland Shows Association and the Irish Shows Association.

Ann’s interest in shows goes back to her childhood, looking around the many exhibits which appeared to have introduced her to a way of life which she was later to develop.

“I was always interested in the land and feeding calves and I wanted to go to agricultural college in Enniskillen but there was no accommodation for girls at that time. My father had died and there was no way I could go to Loughry,” she said.

Learning on the job and having good neighbours were important to her as she took control of the home farm.

She also began working off the farm in her mid teenage years and after a number of years got involved with Fermanagh Farming Society, initially as a Young Farmers’ Club representative and as a steward, helping to tie pens together for livestock.

In 1997, Ann was appointed Show Secretary, a post she held for five years but remained afterwards as a Vice-Chairman and Director. Around this time, Ann was heading a new Women in Agriculture programme, designed with European funding to help local women develop their skills and interests so they could provide support on the local farm or diversfy into new businesses. Now there are many examples of local successful businesses across rural Fermanagh.

Ann estimates that there were several hundred women participating across various themed programmes in ICT and technology, farm management and food development. As co-ordinator, Ann introduced a Seeds of Change initiative for local schools, and a Bloomin Healthy programme for health checks. Rooting for Business promoted a country market and personal development.

Over the 11 years of Women in Agriculture, local women travelled to see other groups working together and this included a trip to Italy to see successful food projects there.

The County Show was however close to Ann’s heart and a number of years ago, took over as Show Manager. It has now developed into a major event in the agricultural and rural calendar, attended by more than 12,000 people. This year, they won a Show Business Award from the Farmers’ Guardian publication.

Ann developed the trade exhibits which have increased year by year and in 2000, the first food hall was introduced, this year attracting 30 exhibits.

One of the finest successes of the County Show is the involvement of schoolchildren in the schools classes for written work, artwork and crafts now attracting over 4,000 entries.

“We will have an Olympic theme for 2016,” said Ann, already planning the classes for next year’s Show.

“I am also looking at further development of the Foodhall at present as next year will be Northern Ireland’s Year of Food. I am also looking at women and farming and their role in farming and the Show. Next year the Show will be celebrating 180 years and we will have special events,” she said.

In addition, Ann is secretary of the Northern Ireland Charolais Club and she has pioneered a new pedigree beef calf event this autumn. As secretary of the first Northern Ireland Beef Event, Beef NI Expo and Pedigree Calf Fair, she will be preparing for its inaugural event on Saturday, November 14 at the old Balmoral site in Belfast with £20,000 sponsorship and involving all 10 local breed societies.

“I feel my role is to promote Northern and its food, preserving its environment and heritage,” she says, adding the importance of women in business too.

Away from work, Ann and her husband Raymond, a bricklayer, have two children, Lynsey, a senior consultant with Hayes, Cardiff and Andrew, studying civil engineeering at Queen’s University, Belfast.

Ann is heavily involved in her local church, Coolbuck, close to Topped Mountain as well as the Topped Mountain Historical Society.