Being Farmstrong

Module Overview

Rugby legend and farmer Sam Whitelock looks back on nearly a decade of being the Ambassador of Farmstrong, the nationwide rural programme that supports farmers to manage pressure and get more out of life and work.

I grew up in a small country in the Manawatū, so after finishing my rugby playing career, it’s been really nice to be back on farm, sharing another part of my story, and the Farmstrong story.

My wife Hannah and I juggle a busy family life with a range of on and off the farm jobs.

I’ve made Farmstrong’s Five Ways to Wellbeing part of my life, and I really encourage other farmers and growers to do the same.

The Five Ways provide balance, support and a sense of perspective when the going gets tough.

One of the Five Ways to Wellbeing is keep learning, as a professional sportsman, learning always kept me fresh and creative and getting back into farming has been the same.

Being curious and learning about all sorts of things on and off the farm will help you farm smarter. At whatever age, setting goals to learn new skills is good for your brain and keeps your thinking flexible and open.

Prioritise your wellbeing 

Being Farmstrong is about enjoying farming. That’s something that I think a lot of people do when they first start out and then all of a sudden some of the pressures get on top of people – that’s why it’s important to prioritise your wellbeing so you don’t burn out.

Pressure is pressure whether you’re a grower or a rugby player. How do I deal with it? I travel towards it, embrace it as part of my job and then, when I get the opportunity, I step away from it and make sure I recharge.

I’ve learnt, you can’t just go hammer-down the whole time, you need to step away. It’s important to go and do something else whether it’s with your family or a hobby or catching up with mates outside the industry.

I’ve been Farmstrong’s ambassador since 2016, and what I like best about the programme is that it’s so practical.

20,000 farmers have attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to Farmstrong 

Over 20,000 farmers have attributed an improvement in their wellbeing to Farmstrong this year. Why are farmers and growers making these changes? Because they know to get the best out of your farm or orchard, first, you need to get the best out of yourself.

When we get busy during calving, lambing, or harvest, it’s easy to let our wellbeing slip down the list of priorities.

Think about your wellbeing like a bank account and make regular investments in things that boost your wellbeing when things are going well, so you have something to draw on when times are tough. A little bit like a piggy bank, the idea is to make small deposits on a regular basis rather than waiting until our wellbeing is so low that we’ve got a crisis on our hands.

There is a strong link between diminished wellbeing and on-farm injuries. A study of 500 farmers found the top contributors to injury were – having too much to do and not enough time, fatigue, lack of sleep, challenges coping with the ups and downs, and not getting a break away from the farm.

If you want to be Farmstrong start by looking after the basics well, things like your sleep, eating well, and scheduling in downtime. The best approach is to build simple habits into your life on a daily basis and you will feel the benefits.

Being Farmstrong works and it’s awesome to have the backing from partners like ACC, who recently announced it will be continuing its partnership with Farmstrong, further investing $2.7 million in the programme over the next two years, as the first phase of a five-year agreement.

ACC’s investment is making a real difference to the lives of farmers and their families through the impact of improved wellbeing and preventing accidents and injury.

For farmers and growers who want to get involved in Farmstrong,  there is a lot of great advice available to farmers on the Farmstrong website, which offers a range of practical resources and guidance to help farmers and growers manage workload, stress and challenges. The Farmstrong toolbox of mental skills is another great resource to help you stay safe and well.

For free tools and resources on how to live well farm well head to www.farmstrong.co.nz