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Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup (left) receives the cheque from National Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation.
The recent presentation of a cheque for $4,500 to the Rural Support Trust, was the result of the Fieldays’ inaugural Tractor Racing Experience that replaced the usual tractor pulling competition.
The event, supported by training professionals’ Ag Drive, allowed visitors to get behind the wheel of one of two identical 200hp Case IH tractors for a high-speed dash down the track against the clock and their mates, under the guidance of a team of skilled instructors.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation was thrilled to have raised a healthy sum towards the Trust’s critical work.
“Mental health is a big area of concern in rural communities and people often don’t know where or who to turn when things get tough.
“The work that the Rural Support Trust does is vital. And of course, it’s not hard to have fun when you’re behind the wheel of a 200hp Case IH tractor racing your mates,” says Nation.
Rural Support Trust is a not-for-profit network of regional trusts that provide free and confidential assistance to rural people facing challenges in everyday rural life.
The Trust is made up of farmers and those with a good understanding of rural life, acknowledging that there are often ups and downs, and the farming community faces many stressors around health and wellbeing, financial pressures, animal welfare, employment matters and adverse events.
Fieldays organisers also provided the Rural Support Trust a site in the Hauora Taiwhenua Health and Wellbeing Hub, giving visitors the opportunity to stop by and chat with the trusts’ coordinators.
Walking around the Fieldays this year, expected most of the conversations to be about machinery purchases and farm infrastructure upgrades. Instead, one topic seemed to keep cropping up more frequently with farmers – the price of PKE.
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