| 29 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Surfing for Farmers Having a positive and lasting impact on farmers SFF provides a unique opportunity for Kiwi farmers, along with their wives/partners, to take a break from their “all-consuming” businesses. Russell Fredric Surfing For Farmers first impact survey has revealed the organisation is having a positive and lasting impact on farmers’ wellbeing. The brainchild of rural real estate consultant Stephen Thompson, Surfing for Farmers (SFF) was launched in 2018, aiming to promote the mental and emotional well-being of farmers through recreation, and connection with others. SFF appointed a new general manager, Dominic Huxley, last October as part of its vision and strategy to further expand its reach and effectiveness. Dominic brings a wealth of international experience to the organisation. Formerly a professional international mountaineer, he lived in Wanaka before working overseas for 10 years with Disney, Unilever, and other large organisations. “Stephen and the trustees have pretty big aspirations to take Surfing For Farmers from where it is today to really make it a bigger, self-sustaining entity.” SFF provides a unique opportunity for Kiwi farmers, along with their wives/partners, to take a break from their “all-consuming” businesses and engage in outdoor activities, enjoy fresh air, exercise, and connect with fellow farmers, rural families, and industry professionals. Events are held nationwide late spring to early autumn, with all equipment, lessons, and refreshments provided free of charge. This ensures that the programme remains inclusive and accessible to all those who can benefit from it, regardless of their financial circumstances. Since it was established, SFF has experienced considerable growth, expanding to 25 beaches nationwide. Local coordinators generously volunteer their time, with the organisation being sponsored by several sector-related corporate sponsors, as well as partnering with Rural Support Trust. “Our numbers have grown year-on-year, but we really need to be able to reach more people,” Dominic says. “We are across all the regions, but there’s a lot of people which need a break as well that are inland.” Consequently, SFF is currently assessing how to reach and engage with this demographic, which is part of formulating a more coherent strategy during the next one to two years to take SFF further forward. “We know we need to address that. Understanding the landscape, we know that it still needs to be community-led first and foremost with the support of commercial [sponsorship] and to a certain extent the Government as well. That’s kind of the trifecta.” During the 2024-25 season, a total of around 10,000 individual surfing sessions were recorded across the 25 locations over 15 weeks with an average of 45 people participating at each event. “It’s growing year-on-year and we’re blown away by the response, but it also highlights the need in rural communities to be focusing on that health and wellness and really giving people support in that space.” Last year SFF commissioned its first impact survey which was answered by 371 respondents. Feedback showed 85% of those who participated in events had an improvement in their wellness. Other feedback revealed that while surfing, respondents had been able to completely engage in the present and disengage with what was happening on their farm along with engaging with community more actively, including in their own neighbourhood. “We got an average rating of 9.6 of ‘how likely are you to recommend Surfing for Farmers to another farmer’, which is great. Ninety percent noticed a reduction in stress or anxiety since attending Surfing For Farmers. That was really good results for our first impact survey.” “Resilient rural communities in turn leads to better outcomes for everyone.” Go to halterhq.com “Halter allows you to really hone in on the basics and do it right. We were doing the basics well before but now it allows us to do it even better.” Dan Blair Sebakwe Farming, Canterbury Pasture management Virtual fencing and herding Heat detection Animal health “With Halter, we’re not limited by time or fences anymore. We can truly prioritise what’s best for our cows.” Teagan Gray Gray Farms, Hauraki Plains Farm the way you’ve always wanted. energy, connection, and a much-needed breather to rural communi ties m and lbeing and community spirit nationwide. Find out more at Swapping paddocks for surfboards.
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