Boots Off, Brains Unplugged

When farming is both your business and your way of life, switching off can be difficult. The pressure often compounds through the accumulation of dozens of decisions and responsibilities, all competing for attention.

That’s why I’m a firm believer that time away from the farm is not time wasted, and sometimes the best thing you can do for the farm is step away from it for a while.

Rural Riders began from that simple idea. In 2021, then Ballance employee Hamish Clausen was living in Taupō, and a weekly ride with his mates became one of the best ways to clear his head. He could also see a gap in rural communities, and while Surfing for Farmers was great for those close to a coast, and he wanted to create an option for farmers inland to connect and unwind.

Hamish approached Ballance to be its first sponsor and about 10 people joined the first ride. By the end of that first season, around 35 people were regularly gathering in Taupō and before long, there was an active community taking part. Today, there are weekly rides across 15 locations from the far North to the deep South, connecting more than 250 people during the October-to-April season.

This year, the initiative has evolved to see Surfing for Farmers and Rural Riders join together under one banner: For Farmers. Joining the two organisations means they can provide even greater impact to focus on what they do best, bringing farmers together. Both still have the same grassroots community approach; there’s just a bigger support crew in behind.

There’s something powerful about riding a trail. Your attention shifts to the next corner, the terrain and what’s in front of you. An activity with a little adrenaline makes your brain focus on something other than negative or repetitive thoughts that farming can bring at times. For an hour or two, everything else can wait.

Rural Riders was designed to be a casual ride with mates: an easy way to meet new people, network and have a good time. Riders of every experience level are welcome. Some bring traditional bikes, others use e-bikes, and bikes can be borrowed by arrangement through the local co-ordinator. The rides usually last one to two hours and finishes with a barbeque and a yarn. Friends, family, sponsors and people from outside the rural sector are all welcome.

I’ve noticed the moments after a ride matter as much as the riding itself. People head back, grab some food and talk about the trail, the week and whatever else is on their minds. Sometimes a farmer simply needs space to get something off their chest among people who understand.

The programme depends on strong local support. Each location has one or two co-ordinators who set routes, welcome participants and help everything run smoothly. Partners like Ballance among others, with local co-ordinators and volunteers, make it possible to keep the experience free, friendly and grounded in each community.

Feedback is consistently positive, with around 90% of riders saying that the programme has reduced their stress and anxiety. Even hearing one person say they’ve been looking forward to it, is proof it’s doing what it was set out to do. It’s simple, it’s working, and farmers love it.

As the movement grows for both surfing and riding, For Farmers says its aim is to remain relaxed and community led, supporting areas where there’s a need, letting each group develop naturally and keeping it local, and we’re proud to support it.

Looking after ourselves doesn’t have to mean taking a week off or booking an expensive holiday. It might mean going for a ride or a surf, sharing a barbeque with mates, or leaving the farm for a couple of hours without feeling guilty about it.

Because sometimes the best thing you can do for the farm is step away from it, come back with a clear head and a little more energy, and remember there’s a life beyond the next job on the list.

• Andrew Sanders is national sales manager Ballance Agri-Nutrients