South Aussie farmers leading the way in health and wellbeing
South Aussie Fat Farmers will trade their workbooks for sneakers this weekend and make their way to the big smoke to take part in the City to Bay Fun Run.
With a shiny new trophy on the line for the team with the most farmers willing to take a day off from the sprayer to pound the city streets for a cause, competing in the popular City to Bay is just another way the ever growing Fat Farmers organisation is working towards improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities.
A big crew from Robertstown will be lacing up to defend their title as the largest City to Bay group, while Maitland farmers might be hoping for a non-farmy weather event to help get their name on the Fat Farmers Cup.
Teams will travel from as far as Millicent to join the fun, and the newly formed Fat Farmers from Balaklava will be hoping they’ve done enough training to get over the finish line.
Robertson Farmer, Joe Ross, said being a part of the “Saints Fat Farmers” group, had not only helped him shift some well-earned weight, but had also been a fun and inclusive, social catch up for the community. The Saints group, named after the local footy team, alternate fitness sessions, guided by a personal trainer, between Robertstown and Eudunda. They also meet regularly for a Sunday Funday Runday, and next month the group will follow up their Sunday run with a special screening of Aussie film, Just A Farmer, which celebrates the resilience of farmers’ wives and the power of community support.
From 3 Yorke Peninsula Fat Farmers to a nation-wide rural health initiative
The OG Fat Farmers, Greg Hean, Ben Wundersitz and Scott Hoyle from the Yorke Peninsula, started the rural health initiative back in 2010, after joking that they were becoming “Fat Farmers” after turning 40 and hanging up their footy boots. Soon realising the many
benefits of regular exercise, they started organising sidewalk BBQ’s outside the gym to encourage other farmers feeling frumpy to join them.
benefits of regular exercise, they started organising sidewalk BBQ’s outside the gym to encourage other farmers feeling frumpy to join them.
In 2021 Fat Farmers – Rural Health Initiative became an Incorporated Association, and it now employs Michael Williams as its General Manager, with an aim to take Fat Farmers nation-wide.
“There are now 18 groups from across South Australia and two just over the border in Victoria and New South Wales,” Michael said.
“Our key message is connection. Coming together, having a laugh and a yarn. It does wonders for mental health and that overall feeling of wellbeing.”
The Hospital Research Foundation Group has jumped on board as Fat Farmers’ Major Health Partner, to help the life-changing program expand into more towns and encourage exercise and social connection amongst isolated farmers.
Following this weekend’s City to Bay, Fat Farmers will come together at Glenelg Pier Hotel, for the highly anticipated trophy presentation, a catch-up, and to hear guest speaker, Channel 9’s Will McDonald talk about his life-changing prostate cancer diagnosis at the age of 42.
For more information on Fat Farmers click here.
