Ex-All Black Sam Whitelock Swaps Rugby for Dairy Farming

That's what retired All Black Sam Whitelock discovered as he adjusts to life back on the family farm in Manawatu.

Whitelock retired in May 2024 after playing 153 tests for New Zealand between 2010 and 2023.

The youngest New Zealander to reach 100 tests, he had stints at Japan and France after retiring as an All Black.

Apart from being a full-time dairy farmer, Whitelock is also an Ambassador for Farmstrong, a nationwide wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers.

The career change is feeling a little strange, Whitelock told Dairy News.

"I left home almost 20 years ago to tackle the world, and coming back two decades later with a few stories, a few scars, a wife, and three kids is a wholesome moment.

"Getting to give my kids the same rural upbringing I had growing up on the family farm is pretty special."

The fifth-generation family farm is located about 15 minutes south of Palmerston North and milks 1500 cows.

Whitelock's brother owns the neighbouring farm which "makes it great for sharing information on what is working".

"We milk twice a day, though we keep our heifers on once a day to look after them and get them back in calf. In terms of feed, we buy in supplements and use a feed pad as needed.

"We are constantly adjusting to match animal needs and pasture quality - we are focused on getting the best out of our stock in a system that works for our land."

With seven full-time staff, there's plenty of support for Whitelock.

"Having just returned, I am pretty much the dog's body at the moment, learning the systems from staff who have been here a while.

"In rugby I was the senior guy helping upskill others, whereas here I am on the learning side of things, which I am really enjoying.

"I am doing a bit of everything across the week, ranging from shed washdowns and pasture management to calving and picking up calves, relearning skills I used to know well as a teenager."

For Whitelock, being one of the world's best locks and working on a clean and green dairy farm requires the same mindset.

He believes there are many crossovers between sport and farming. Team spirit is the key in both disciplines.

"In both, you are always looking for ways to improve, which is a great mindset, but you also have to remind yourself that Rome wasn't built in a day," he says.

"You need a good plan and just chip away at it over time.

"The biggest similarity is the team aspect. Whether it is a two-person operation of a large-scale enterprise, farming is never just one person out there, it is always a team effort, exactly like footy.

"We are always striving to do better, but sometimes you have to stop and look back at where you started to appreciate the improvements you have made to your farm system."

Farmstrong Ambassador

Apart from milking cows, Sam Whitelock also advocates for farmer wellbeing across New Zealand.

His decision to become Farmstrong Ambassador happened "very organically".

"A few years before Farmstrong existed, my parents went through a massive crisis when salmonella hit the dairy herd, and the vet advised culling heavily to stop the spread.

"The pressure on mum and dad was immense, to the point where mum did not leave the house for three weeks.

"They had great support from family and neighbours down the road, but it showed me how quickly farmers can isolate themselves and bottle things up during tough times.

"When Farmstrong formed a couple of years later, I jumped on board to help share those real stories and practical tools, and I have been involved for ten years now."

Whitelock believes mental health is a significant challenge, but he sees it as being wider than just mental health on its own.

There are a lot of small, everyday factors that build up, and if we can nail the little things, it helps prevent the major issues from taking hold, he adds.

"So many farmers are already doing simple things that make a world of difference, like pulling up at the fenceline or popping over to a neighbour's place for a cup of tea.

"It does not need to be a heavy conversation about mental health; just asking how someone is going provides that crucial connection place, so people do not feel like they are doing it alone."

Belonging Matters

With Mental Health Awareness Week running from 12–18 October, this year’s theme of ‘Belonging Matters’ is a timely reminder for the dairy sector. Genuine social connection keeps our rural communities strong, ensuring no one feels like they are walking the paddock alone. mhaw.nz

Farmstrong is a nationwide wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers live well to farm well. It shares practical tools, resources and stories from farmers and growers around New Zealand to help people boost their wellbeing and handle the ups and downs of farming

Find out more at farmstrong.co.nz