Reconnecting with rural communities

Module Overview

After years of Covid-related disruption, the rural events calendar is all go. Farmstrong has been busy taking its messages and resources out on the road again to rural communities.

Farmstrong Comedy Shows

First up, were several Farmstrong comedy shows for rural communities in Omihi and Sheffield in Canterbury that had been rescheduled from earlier in the year. The shows featured an all-star line up of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top comedians – Nick Rado, Courtney Dawson, Tarun Mohanbhai and Tevita Manukia.

Farmstrong ambassador, rugby great Sam Whitelock, says: “The last few years have tested everyone’s resilience. Nights like this are a chance for people to celebrate getting through, reconnect and ‘recharge their batteries’. Taking time off when you’re busy sounds counter-productive, but anything that boosts your mood actually helps you get through busier periods. Having a good laugh with mates for a few hours definitely fits the bill.”

Hurunui mayor Marie Black echoed those sentiments. “I think Farmstrong’s ability to bring an event like this to our rural community is great because the fellowship that we get from each other at these events is really important.”

Farmstrong at Field Days

Farmstrong caught up with West Coasters at Greymouth’s AgFest event. A big turn-out in the sunshine saw a constant stream of visitors head to the Farmstrong stand for a chat about how the year was going and the sorts of things they do to look after themselves and handle pressure.

The Farmstrong team shared resources created as part of Farmstrong’s You Matter, Let’s Natter campaign which encourages farmers to catch up regularly with mates and neighbours over a cuppa to see how they’re going and show support.

Copies of the Farmstrong book, Live Well, Farm Well were also in high demand. There were even free massages on offer at the stand for those who wanted to take a bit of time out of their day to simply relax.

The Farmstrong team will be attending this year’s rescheduled Field Days at Mystery Creek and Northland’s Field Day next March.

New Tools for the ‘top paddock’

Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock has been helping Farmstrong to produce new video clips to pass on thinking strategies that can help farmers and growers manage pressure. The clips focus on approaching the challenges of farming with a flexible and open mindset and learning to recognise and avoid common thinking traps, such as catastrophising a situation, over-generalising and being limited to ‘black and white’ thinking.

As an elite athlete, Sam is no stranger to pressure himself and shares the sorts of things he does to manage the ups and downs of a professional sporting career.

“I embrace pressure as part of my job, but when I get the opportunity, I also step away from it to make sure I recharge.”

Sam was joined on set by Taranaki dairy farmer Kane Brisco, who published a best-selling book earlier this year on dealing with the pressures of farming called ‘Tools for the Top Paddock’.

Says Kane: “So being Farmstrong for me is about having a really good balance in life. It’s about having the full picture in your head, not just concentrating on being a great farmer, but being a great person off-farm as well. They both play off each other. Being a good, well-rounded person generally leads to being a great farmer on farm as well.”

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers to cope with the ups and downs of farming. Last year more than 15,000 farmers attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to their involvement in the programme.