Saturday, March 30, 2024

FARMSTRONG: Catch up with your mates

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Scheduling time to regularly catch up with mates is an important part of managing pressure and workload over summer, Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock says. 
Farmstrong ambassador Sam Whitelock says social connections are key to our wellbeing.
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“Connecting with your mates is a massive part of keeping well, whether you’re farming or playing rugby. 

“Sharing the ups and downs in life helps you keep things in perspective and recharges your batteries,” Whitelock says.

“Surround yourself with a network of people you can reach out to. 

“It can be as simple as having a conversation in the pub or over the fence. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, playing sport or just having a barbie, make sure you catch up with your mates this summer.” 

You can stay connected by:

• Having a coffee with a mate;

• Finding out what’s happening locally in your area and joining in;

• Being a good mate. If you notice someone has dropped off the radar, give them a ring or, better still, drop in for a cuppa; 

• Hosting a barbecue to get to know neighbours or people new to the area;

• Being a good listener. You don’t need to have the answers, just listening can make an enormous difference to someone who is feeling under the pump or;

• Checking on your neighbour, offering to lend a hand or look after the place if they need a short break.

Here’s what other farmers do to stay connected. 

Contract milker Tangaroa Walker says “When I’m struggling I ring my mates and have a yarn. 

“That’ll lead to us going diving that week and then I get out into the water and all of a sudden the little dramas that I had on farm that were really getting to me are bugger all.

“Some people get onto these farms that are way out in the middle of nowhere and they’re isolated so the big thing would be either join a sports team or have a hobby like diving or hunting. Find an outlet that helps you meet like-minded people.”

Contract milker and agribusiness student Cheyenne Wilson made cooking Sunday roasts for staff and neighbours part of the way she manages.

“For me it’s natural. It’s what we’ve always done as a family, looking after people and having visitors around. You feed them. It’s natural as Maori, it’s the manaakitanga values we have been raised with to look after the people that you have in your farming business and your team. And let’s face it, everyone loves food.

“I think one of the Farmstrong messages that resonates with me at the moment is not just that we need to look after ourselves better but we also need to look after the people around us.”

Canterbury dairy farmer Duncan Rutherford schedules regular catch-ups with mates and encourages staff to do the same. 

“I was playing rugby up until this year so that was a way of getting out the house and socialising. That stuff’s important because it also gives you a chance to check how others are doing. 

“If you see people struggling – mates who aren’t quite themselves or not engaging – you can help them out if they’re busy or ring them more often to check they’re going okay.

“We always have drinks on a Friday night and encourage people to get off farm and play sport. 

“We don’t see it as downtime.

“We encourage these guys to get out there and have other interests. Being a good boss is just about treating people as you’d want to be treated yourself.” 

East Coast Rural Support Trust co-ordinator Sarah Donaldson lives on a farm and is a clinical psychologist specialising in rural health and wellbeing. She says staying connected is a vital part of managing the challenges of farming. 

“Connecting up with others and having some rest and recovery time are the two real biggies when we’re feeling a bit crunched up. When you’re busy it’s all about micro-breaks, taking the little opportunities within your day or week to do the things that will keep you chugging along.

“It could be a family picnic on the farm or a social game of tennis. It’s about being smart. If it’s a rainy day and you’re limited with what you can do, go into town to your local pub or cafe for an hour to chew the fat. It just releases the valve a bit.” 

Cambridge dairy farmer Marc Gascoigne likes to leap on the bike at the Te Awamutu Cycling Club to catch up with mates. 

“Cycling’s a big part of my socialising. 

“I’m getting the exercise, I’m connecting with people meeting up for rides and I’m serving others because I’m president of the club. When you’re giving to others like that it makes you feel a hell of a lot better yourself.

“You’re often isolated on a farm so if something’s gnawing away at you and you’re working by yourself all day it can fester in your head. The more socialising and talking to people you can do the better.

“I’ve also got two or three farming mates that I keep in regular contact with. It’s vital to keep those connections up and have a regular yarn, especially if you’re going through a tough period.

“When you’re busy, often the last thing you feel like doing is socialising with people but that’s when it’s really important to take up those invitations and get out there. Don’t just sit at home and stew. You’ll come back to your own farm with fresh eyes.”

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To find out what else could work for you, check out our farmer-to-farmer videos, stories and tips at www.farmstrong.co.nz

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