Winning Young Business Woman of the Year at the NZI Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards has already lifted her profile, says Millie Aitken, founder of hat and tack business Bar M.

“There’s been so much that has come from it already; so much marketing and promotion and people getting out and finding out about the brand,” she says.

Aitken learned to shape hats in Colorado after four years on Canadian cattle ranches.

“I definitely didn’t think I was capable of getting the award, so that was a real surprise.”

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