Cricket games unite communities

Module Overview

Farmers and growers around the country got the chance to down their tools and showcase their bat and ball skills in a range of cricket games organised to bring rural communities together for a fun day out.

Farmstrong helped support three cricket games that took place this year including the Gumboot Cup on 28 February in Hawke’s Bay, the Te Puke Horticulture vs Dairy match on 6 March in the Western Bay of Plenty and the Dairy vs Sheep match on 15 March in North Canterbury.

North Canterbury dairy farmer and Farmstrong Supporter Sam Spencer-Bower organised the Dairy vs Sheep match (pictured above) after reading an article about the Te Puke Horticulture vs Dairy match in the Western Bay of Plenty.

“I saw an article about it and thought it was such a cool idea,” Sam says.

“I love cricket and experienced depression myself a while back so I wanted to create an opportunity where I could help out and put on something fun for local farmers.”

The match was held at the Ohoka Cricket Club in Mandeville, near Christchurch, and this year is the second year it’s been held.

“Everybody loved it, and it was a lot of fun. We had a speaker system set up, so players had music when they came out to bat and we also had a fun commentary running. There were also some fun prizes for things like the most dropped catches,” he says.

“Everybody brought their families; there were bouncy castles and a BBQ lunch so it was a real family day out where everyone could forget about the farm and their worries for a day.”

Creating an opportunity to get off farm

Sam says a lot of the local famers love cricket, but it can be hard to get off the farm and find the time to play.

“An event like this creates an opportunity to play, have a break and do something you love otherwise you can end up stuck on the farm.

“The beauty of cricket is that there’s lots of banter and you can talk while you’re playing. I’m happy to say there were also no injuries to report,” he says.

“We’ve got a trophy made out of an old plough shear on timber for the winners, but we kept it pretty light-hearted and didn’t want it to be too competitive.”

With sheep farmers winning it last year and dairy farmers winning it this year, it could be anybody’s game in next year’s showdown, Sam says.

“I really loved seeing all the different people connecting and catching up and getting a chance to have a yarn and unwind.

“It was also a chance to raise awareness at the match about Farmstrong and Rural Support Trust. The more we can get those names out there and the work they do for when things go haywire, the better.”

Talking and asking for help crucial

Sam has first-hand experience of things going haywire when he experienced depression 12 years ago.

“There was a lot of stigma and shame, and I didn’t want people to know. I think things are getting better and there’s not so much shame around it now and people are more willing to open up,” he says.

“Farming is hard, and farmers can be prone to issues around wellbeing but it’s okay to talk about things and ask for help.”

He says farmers can sometimes be their own worst enemy.

“You can get too busy and not get off the farm to refresh and de-stress.”

He says the cricket match was made possible with the support of the local community, sponsors and the cricket club lending a helping hand.

Farmers flock to inaugural Gumboot Cup

Meanwhile, at the other end of the country, Hawke’s Bay deer farmer and Farmstrong Champion Harry Gaddum helped organise the inaugural Gumboot Cup match at Maraekakaho Cricket Club in Hawke’s Bay.

The match saw 12 rural Hawke’s Bay teams swap the paddock for the cricket pitch and enjoy a social day out, as well as raising funds for Farmstrong and Rural Support Trust.

Harry, whose farm was severely impacted during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, says the match provided a great excuse for farmers to get off the farm, connect and have a good time.

“There’s a really fulfilling, refreshing vibe to that situation and cricket is just perfect for that.”

Over in Hawke’s Bay, the Te Puke Horticulture vs Dairy cricket match is in its seventh year and still going strong.

Bay of Plenty kiwifruit spraying contractor and Farmstrong Champion Stephen Crossan is the driving force behind the annual event, pitting local growers and farmers against each other.

He says the event is not just about the cricket.

“The whole intention of the game is to get farmers and growers to down tools and have a day away from the farm or orchard, get together with some like-minded people and have some fun,” Stephen says.

“To someone else looking in it might just look like a fun game of cricket, a couple of hours on a Sunday, but for someone on the field it might be their one opportunity to get off their farm or orchard for the week or for the month.”

 Check out Farmstrong’s short video about the Gumboot Cup cricket match here.