{"id":62734,"date":"2023-05-10T10:56:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T22:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/?p=62734"},"modified":"2023-05-10T11:19:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T23:19:05","slug":"making-a-point-of-enjoying-your-farming-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersweekly.co.nz\/people\/making-a-point-of-enjoying-your-farming-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Making a point of enjoying your farming journey"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

This article first appeared in our sister publication, Dairy Farmer.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan Ditchfield can look back and see the very different stages he has gone through in his farming life. He and his wife Sheree milk 400 cows on about 64ha in Wendonside, Southland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was coming through the industry, I had a real focus on financial gain and growing the asset. I had an amazing upbringing as a child, but we weren\u2019t always flush with money so it was very important for me to be financially independent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat drove me to be successful in farming and then it became an addiction. Subconsciously I just wanted to grow and grow and what happened was that I left my family behind. I fell on my face and had a big wake-up call. Now I am very happy in my own skin doing what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Ditchfields work with three other team members to run the dairy farm. It\u2019s a flat structure with no hierarchy and they all have their own responsibilities, Dylan says. This approach provides time for the couple, who were among Farmstrong\u2019s earliest supporters, to be involved in their wider farming community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of years ago they set up a Farming to Freedom leadership course to help other couples build resilience and be the best they can be as people, leaders and farmers. The course brings couples together and provides a comfortable place for people to talk about things and support one another, Dylan says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course aligns well with Farmstrong\u2019s Five Ways to Wellbeing \u2013 staying connected, keeping active, enjoying simple pleasures, learning, and giving back to friends and community. It was through one of the couples on the course that they were introduced to regenerative farming, which uses a variety of sustainable practices to improve the health and vitality of the farm soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe hardest thing to change in moving to a regenerative system is the farmer\u2019s mindset. Once you change that, things start to flow. It\u2019s not easy. We are learning off each other as we go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things he likes about the regenerative community is an openness to listen to one another and learn. He and Sheree helped to establish a discussion group for Otago Southland, which began with about 10 people and has now grown to about 50-60 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople love it. It\u2019s about farmers getting together and sharing their knowledge and experience. They\u2019re open and accepting of different points of view.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan says his mindset in regard to wellbeing has also changed slightly over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProbably back then it was more about getting time out, looking after yourself, and getting time away with family. All those key ideas Farmstrong promotes, which are still really important to manage workload and prevent burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut now our kids have left home and we have more flexibility. We have come to realise that wellbeing is about being happy where you\u2019re at. We are not chasing growth like we were. It was an ingrained mindset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor us now, it\u2019s about giving something back to our community and positively impacting other people. It doesn\u2019t matter what we do \u2013 whether it\u2019s farming or coaching or mentoring or being with our family and friends, as long as we are doing that, we feel fulfilled. You don\u2019t have to take a holiday to feel that way. We still need time out \u2013 we regularly look at our yearly planner and block out times in advance. But it\u2019s that overall sense of purpose which makes the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Dylan, wellbeing is about having a positive orientation towards everything, even during challenging times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the environment and culture we have created, it\u2019s not a chore anymore. It\u2019s a pleasure to be out there amongst it. We feel better connected with our farm, our animals and our people and we could do it every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis attitude doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t have hard days when you think you are letting people down or your mind is spinning like crazy when things get a little chaotic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing to remember is you can change your mindset, says Dylan. \u201cWhat you are feeling does not necessarily reflect what the outcome is going to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of anxiety out there and it\u2019s often because of people\u2019s mindset. Take the drought, for example. Yes, there\u2019s a drought and yes, it\u2019s hard, but if you have a plan, you follow it through with constant monitoring and you get through that way. You can only do what you can control and what you have influence over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the things we teach in our course is being mindful. Look around and be grateful for what you have and what\u2019s going to happen is going to happen. We do the best we can to mitigate threats. And if we can\u2019t, that\u2019s just the way it is and we\u2019re okay with that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Sheree, a key strategy when she is feeling under the pump is to focus on the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the years we have got better at focusing on what we can do right here right now, in this moment, rather than losing ourselves in the future or the past. It\u2019s the future or the past that builds anxiety and you ruminate on it.  Being in the moment just releases you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rural sector is currently under a lot of pressure, Dylan says. The pandemic, and weather events like droughts and floods, bring great uncertainties and on top of that he believes communities have become more polarised on issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are noticing that there are more extreme views on different issues, bringing divisions within communities and industries. People are hooked on social media and living in a kind of false world.  It isn\u2019t like that, but we perceive it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to get people on different sides to see their commonalities and try and find a pathway forward together, rather than looking at people that disagree as a lost cause resulting in further division.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just the vocal people saying stuff, its people in the middle listening to it. That itself creates stress and anxiety because all of a sudden you are expected to take a side and you don\u2019t want to take a side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of its You Matter, Let\u2019s Natter initiative, Farmstrong has been encouraging farmers to stay connected during challenging times and has created resources to pass on the skills of being a good listener. Dylan acknowledges respectful listening is critical to people\u2019s wellbeing and building a positive, rural community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing a good listener is something which Farmstrong promotes and it\u2019s something we need more of in the community, especially now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More: Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers to deal with the ups and downs of the industry. To find out what works for you and lock it in, visit www.farmstrong.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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.\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":62735,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[110,129],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t