Farmstrong
Big picture thinking to the rescue
The driving force behind the Fairlight Foundation shares why fear was the catalyst to chasing her dreams.
LouLou the Cow Whisperer: for the love of the herd
A once accountant now award-winning dairy farmer and ag social media influencer-in-the-making talks shop and what keeps her well and going on farm.
Hawke’s Bay farmers getting ready for a laugh
Farmstrong organises night of comedy for region that’s done it tough this year.
Farmstrong tagged for Farmlands fundraiser
Rural wellbeing programme chosen for co-op’s annual drive.
Harnessing the power of small habits
Focusing on daily habits helps manage pressure when the going gets tough, says Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock.
How to get on and do after a cyclone hits
Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer Patrick Crawshaw shares how he’s dealt with the aftermath of Gabrielle.
Five traits that people who thrive have in common
Dairy farmers have been sharing with Farmstrong how they use the Five Ways. Here are a few examples to get you thinking.
Living better through farming smarter
A good work-life balance is one of the metrics this farming business measures itself by.
How a bareback rider boots the blues
Slade MacDonald says he was a wild child but came back to New Zealand to straighten himself out.
Woolshed workout sets farmers up to win
Hawke’s Bay ‘brothers’ make time for a restorative gym session amid the grind of post-cyclone repairs.
A long, dark winter can dawn on any rural professional
Rangitikei shearing contractor shares some helpful tips that helped him through what he says was a "pretty dark space".
Making a point of enjoying your farming journey
A sense of purpose and having a positive impact on the people around them has been the key to farming fulfilment for Dylan and Sheree Ditchfield.
Hey, farmer! Your health comes first
Nothing on farm is going to work just as it should if you are feeling run down.
New book to support kiwifruit growers in tough times
The kiwifruit industry has teamed up with Farmstrong on a new resource to help growers manage the challenges of the industry.
Tips for tackling challenges on farm
Once you put the facts down on a piece of paper, it’s easy to clarify and prioritise what you actually need to do.
Bopping city slicker finds his rhythm on-farm
While farming is in his DNA, it took a monumental event for one Kiwi farmer to find his true calling.
Farmer wellbeing hub launched in Pukehina
Building muscle, building connections in a converted shed.
The importance of getting back on the horse
The main thing is making sure you get time off.
Highlighting the challenge of opportunity
The heart of what we do on farm is manaakitanga – feeding and looking after our people - and kaitiakitanga - looking after the environment and improving it.
Comedy shows rural communities are keen to reconnect
You’ve got to laugh, haven’t you?
Wiggy’s way to foster mental wellbeing
Well-known rural voice Craig Wiggins chats about some of the recent initiatives he's been a part of to help farmer well-being and why it's important to him.
Keep the connections going
Spending time with family and friends, talking with others and being there for others when they need us makes us stronger and better supported.
Simple pleasures in a complex business
Catching up with mates and taking a break when the work allows tops up the wellbeing of a Hawke’s Bay farmer and his team.
Treat yourself as your farm’s greatest asset
Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock passes on insights about how to take care of yourself.
Empowering farmers by turning ‘knowing’ into ‘doing’
Nadine Hickman shares coping strategies for people engaged in the unique – and uniquely challenging – business of farming.
AWD course helps navigate farming challenges
Southland dairy farmer Brooke Flett shares how a new programme designed to boost the resilience of rural communities helps her navigate the challenges of farming.
A life in wool
Shearing’s traditionally been all technique and tallies, but a new training programme is encouraging shearers to regard themselves as rural athletes, mentally and physically.
‘NZ’s fastest farmers’ go wheel to wheel
The inaugural Anchor Milk cycle race recently took place near Oamaru. Among the 77 competitors were 28 farmers…
Discovering my own values
High country sheep and beef farmer Hamish Murray spent a year on a Nuffield scholarship studying businesses with high-performance team cultures. What he discovered was that before you can work on your team, you need to work on yourself.
Contract milker’s Moving Day tips
New herd, new home, new community. Moving day can be a stressful time for contract milkers. Here are a few tips on how to manage the transition.
Always a way through
Together with his sharemilkers Theo and Martin Sneek and their staff, Geoff Spark runs a 460ha dairy operation near Oxford. He’s a third-generation farmer and grew up on the family farm in Rangiora, which the family’s still farming after 55 years.
A wake up call
A near-fatal accident completely changed Owen Gullery’s approach to life and farming. Now he’s alerting other farmers to the dangers of fatigue.