More than 450 farmers and their families attended seven community events from October to December, held in some of the more remote areas in Northland. The events were simply a way for farmers in communities to connect with others and share their experiences in a year impacted by a low milk price.
A number of organisations in Northland collaborated to organise the social events which also included discussion around wellness and improving safety on-farm.
So, how did these events come about?
Dairy farmers were telling us there were too many events held by different organisations that often touched on similar subjects. We took this on-board and organisations across Northland are working closer together so there is less repetition of events. Those organisations include DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ Fonterra, FMG, WorkSafe, Primary ITO, Federated Farmers, Dairy Women’s Network, Rural Support Trust, Rural Women NZ and NZ Young Farmers clubs.
The geographic spread of Northland dairy farms creates many small communities where neighbours are operating different farming businesses. The events therefore embraced families from all farming types as they are all neighbours who can support each other.
We want families and communities to feel comfortable talking about topics like wellness and minimising safety risks onfarm. The community events allowed courageous conversations to be started and encouragement was given to continue those discussions long after the dust of our departure had settled.
About $600 was also raised for local schools, which are commonly a community focus, representing the essentials of new generations and learning.
Get-togethers were once a feature of rural communities. In many areas these events have been lost as a consequence of a range of factors associated with communication, transport and social expectations. These events are reminding folk how good it is to spend time with neighbours and know that they are there for them if needed.
Wellbeing research shows people can actively improve their wellbeing and resilience. Connecting with others is a major part of being able to cope in challenging times. Talking with others can help relieve pressure and is a reminder that you’re not alone in the situation, and others might have some useful tips to share.
As we start the New Year, I encourage farmers to get involved in community events. That could be a DairyNZ discussion group, or even a barbeque with neighbours. We’re looking forward to holding more of these community events in 2016.
For more information on local events, hosted by a range of organisations, visit dairyevents.co.nz.
Chris Neill is DairyNZ regional leader for Northland
