Search gets under way for the fittest in farming
ARE you a farmer capable of outrunning a fleeing flock of sheep or doing press-ups in the milking parlour?
If the answer is yes, the organisers of Britain’s Fittest Farmer 2021 want to hear from you.
The adrenaline-fuelled competition, which sees the fittest men and women in British farming put to the ultimate test, has returned this month to kickstart a big conversation about mental health and physical wellbeing.
Run by agricultural magazine Farmers Weekly, in partnership with outdoor gym Farm Fitness, the search is on for one man and one woman who will be crowned Britain’s Fittest Farmers 2021, with a £1,000 cash prize up for grabs for each winner.
Oli Hill, Farmers Weekly’s community editor and judge, said the competition was looking for farmers who would make “fantastic ambassadors for health and fitness in agriculture”, to help break the taboo of talking about mental health issues such as depression and rural isolation.
“Everyone faces stress at work, but farmers are notorious for not talking about any issues they may have,” he said. “This competition recognises their every-day challenges – both physical and mental – and aims to open up a healthy, positive conversation. The beauty of Britain’s Fittest Farmer is that you don’t have be an Olympic athlete to enter – we’re looking for people who are health-conscious and make every effort to strike a good work-life balance.
“It’s the farming community at its very best, uniting to have a great time while supporting and advancing an important cause.”
Now in its third year, the competition’s entrants must be aged 18 or over and be working in UK farming or the wider agriculture industry. Last year saw James Arney, a cattle farmer from Frome in Somerset, and Emma Ashley, from a mixed farm near Hertford in Hertfordshire, crowned the winners.
For this year’s competition, Farmers Weekly is also partnering with the Farming Community Network, one of the UK’s leading charities for farming people who find themselves facing hardship.
Poor mental health is the top health concern in UK farming, with research conducted by the Farm Safety Foundation finding that at least one agricultural worker commits suicide every week. The study also revealed that 81% of farmers under 40 years old believe mental health is the biggest hidden problem they faced today.
Fellow judge Tom Kemp, founder of Essex-based Farm Fitness, said: “Farm Fitness is honoured to be partnering with Farmers Weekly to once again help in the hunt for Britain’s Fittest Farmer. It’s our ongoing mission to honour our agricultural roots, so this is a great privilege for us.”
To start your application, visit the website (below). Fill in your details and answer a few questions about your connection with farming and what you do to keep in good shape and look after your mental wellbeing. Applicants also need to upload a video or photo of themselves.
Everyone who meets the judging criteria will be invited to compete in a qualifier event to be held later this year, facing a series of tough physical challenges designed to test speed, strength and stamina. From this round, ten men and ten women will proceed to the final stages of the competition, to be held in the autumn.