Mrs Simson, a sheep and cropping farmer from Premer, defeated current president Charles Armstrong by 232 voters to 147.

The 47-year-old took the top spot after serving as its vice-president and chairwoman of the mining and sustainability taskforces.

Mrs Simson had also been a member of the conservation and resource management, industrial relations and corporate governance committees.

She is also a councillor with Liverpool Plains Shire Council.

Mrs Simson told The Leader the election was “terribly exciting”.

“I knew that I had some support, but I didn’t know how much support was out there,” she said.

“By choosing me, farmers are willing to look at how we should best do things in the future.”

Mrs Simson said the group had already “done” stability, and now needed a change.

“What we need now is a bit of a shake-up. Farmers agree with me and see the need for that,” she said.

Mrs Simson plans to improve the presence of NSW Farmers’ by re-invigorating its grassroots members.

“We need to talk to members, listen to members, represent them the best way we can and give them the support that they need,” she said.

“I want to put food security back on the government’s agenda and that’s what our members want.”

The conflict between mining and agricultural land prompted Mrs Simson to get even more involved in the organisation.

“What has driven me over the years is the sustainability of agricultural production,” she said.

“I have two children, 18 and 21. Our property is four generations old now and I would like to make sure that there’s a farm to leave to them.”

Mrs Simson said there was a need to have a food security focus, as well as preserving natural resources.

“The mining act currently trumps every other piece of legislation,” she said.

“Agricultural land is getting more scarce, and it’s not just (because of) mining; we also have urban development.”

She said food security was one of the biggest issues affecting farmers across NSW and she took it very seriously.

“It’s important to protect agriculture and those resources that feed us if we are to maintain valuable agriculture industry into the future.”