We all love a story about people doing awesome work, and as much as it can seem doom and gloom in the media these days, there's some awesome things happening around the country and we wanted to shine a spotlight on them. This month we're focussing on people who are focussing on helping farmers do their thing better.

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Kane Brisco, the creator of Farm Fit and author of Tools For The Top Paddock, found his own way to deal with the stress of farming by getting punched in the face. In today’s email, we’re going to talk about his story, as well as a few other organisations that are helping farmers become more resilient.

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Kane was drawn to farming as a young man, but after some setbacks, he got weighed down by the pressures of his work. In an interview with RNZ, he said: "In terms of farming, I just stopped enjoying it. Every day when I woke up instead of looking forward to the challenges of the day, I couldn't wait for the day to end as soon as I woke up and the things that usually brought me a lot of satisfaction and joy on the farm it was hollow you know, there was nothing there."

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In the interview, he added that: "A lot of farmers would agree, you just don't have a choice when you've got animals relying on you, it’s like being the dad to 100 babies, they can’t look after themselves."

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The turning point came when his wife gave him some ‘tough love’ and helped him change his mindset. She said it was his decision to become a farmer, so it was his responsibility to figure his own stuff out.

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One of the positive changes he made was boxing. After putting in a hard day’s work on the farm, he would go to boxing class to get ‘punched in the face.’ It was physically tiring, but the next day he would wake up feeling mentally refreshed. What was key in changing his mindset was being able to drive out the gate and leave the worries of the farm behind for a while.

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Kane believes that farmers aren’t as fit as they used to be, largely because of the conveniences of modern technology, and this lack of fitness can make handling the stresses of farming more difficult.

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Now he’s able to take what he’s learnt and is helping others. He has his own organisation called Farm Fit. Twice a week after milking, from January to July, people can turn up to his paddock gym for an hour-long workout.

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He also has a new book coming out called Tools For The Top Paddock, that’s all about the methods he uses to deal with the mental and physical challenges of farming.

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The future of farming depends on building resilient farmers

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In farming, longevity is one of the key principles – you always have to be planning for next year, or the next 5 or 10 years. Land shouldn’t be overworked, equipment needs to be well-maintained and serviced, and livestock need proper care and feed.

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And even more important is looking after the ‘top two inches’ of the people who work on the farms. That means treating farmers' mental health with the same practicality and consistency as everything else.

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How a laugh can do wonders for mental health

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Another organisation that’s helping out is Farmstrong. Their mission is "to improve the wellbeing of people working in farming and growing," and they want to help create a rural New Zealand that can adapt to the constant changes of the modern world. In the past 6 years, over 15,000 farmers and farm workers have said that Farmstrong has helped improve their wellbeing.

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Farmstrong Ambassador Samuel Whitelock said: "What I like best about Farmstrong is that it’s so practical. It shows how people can adopt simple habits and ways of thinking that make them better equipped to deal with tough times. It also comes up with solutions that genuinely work for rural people."

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That’s what we like too – stuff that actually works. Farmers don’t need obscure theories or ‘pop psychology,’ they need actionable habits they can use when they’re under the pump.

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Farmstrong host events like comedy shows at local halls, sporting events, fundraisers, and offer resources on their website to help farmers and farm workers improve their mental health and overall wellbeing. The comedy shows are especially popular.

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"This is the fourth Farmstrong gig I’ve done," said the comedian Courtney Dawson, who was a part of the line up at a recent event at Omihi community hall. "It’s always so much fun and it’s nice to see the community come together, have some kai, share a laugh. It’s also good for an Aucklander like me to actually meet hard-working people that have proper jobs."

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Bill Lott, a farmer who attended the event, said, "This community has been through a bit… It’s good it’s getting back to normal and you can come to functions like this. It’s good to get out."

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When it comes to mental health, getting out, being around other people and having a laugh can do wonders. Farming can get lonely, so accessible events like these comedy shows, which are hosted in local halls rather than in the cities, gives farmers a chance to take time off and have some fun.

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NZYF chief executive Lynda Coppersmith

Photo: Farmers Weekly

Investing in our Young Farmers

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Recently, the Ministry for Primary Industries and New Zealand Young Farmers have partnered up to host a series of 60 events – all focused on building resilience and improving the mental health of young farmers.

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Events will be held all across the country. They’ll allow young farmers to meet other people, make friends, and also learn life skills that’ll make them happier people and more confident leaders.

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Lynda Coppersmith, director of New Zealand Young Farmers said: "The mental and physical wellbeing of young people is a big focus of our organisation and is essential for the ongoing viability of many rural communities. This project will increase awareness of the wellbeing support and resources available and give young people the confidence to access them."

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These events are just one example of how we can invest in our young farmers. There was another partnership between NZYF and MPI in 2021, with over $40,000 in funding, and events across the country.

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One of the most notable events was a 6-week bootcamp for young farmers in Longburn. This bootcamp helped get farmers physically fit for lambing and calving, as well as giving participants a chance to learn more about wellbeing and mental health. Kane Brisco was actually the person who oversaw the bootcamp.

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That’s one thing that’s stuck out to us about NZYF, they’re focused on helping people on all different levels – building fitness, growing their social circle, getting job opportunities, and improving their mental wellbeing. What they’re doing is accessible and practical, and that’s what people need.

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NZYF also has over 60 clubs that are open to young farmers to join. This gives members a chance to build a network, make friends, and have a supportive community around them.

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Securing New Zealand’s farming future

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There’s no other industry where ‘passing down the knowledge’ has been more time-honoured than in farming.

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For thousands of years, there have been people working the land, who after decades of sweat and toil, have taught what they know to the younger generation. And while much has changed in farming over the centuries, there’s still the need to pass down the knowledge to the younger generation.

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That’s why these organisations like Farmstrong and New Zealand Young Farmers are so important. For our Agriculture industry to thrive well into the future, we need to be investing in our younger generation and helping them become more resilient.

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Looking forward to seeing what other projects pop up in the coming years.

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To your success,

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The Onefarm Team

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