Grab your free copy of 'Getting Through' book
When visiting the Central Districts field days, make sure you pick up a free copy of Farmstrong's Getting Through book.
Ian Kirkpatrick wears Lycra and he's not afraid to admit he rather likes it.
The thought of the All Black's legend as a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) might be hard to digest, but he is a devoted cyclist. Wearing bright coloured clothing is one of the occupational hazards.
"It keeps you from getting a sore backside."
And getting farmers off their backsides is one of Kirkpatrick's main motivations while he prepares for next year's Farmstrong Fit4Farming Cycle Tour.
The ride from Waikato to Invercargill is to help highlight the benefits to rural communities of being active.
Kirkpatrick rides about three times a week. He's done so for several years.
Running became "too hard on the limbs". And he has always been active, even long after retiring from rugby, and found cycling was a good compromise.
It wasn't as hard on his body and was an excellent way to stay healthy.
"Farmers are generally pretty fit because they have a physical job," he said.
"But shearing and fencing will only get you so fit. Farmers need to be doing a bit of cardio-vascular work too. Going for a run is a great way to get off the farm and a form of exercise, but for us older blokes biking or just walking is good too," he told Rural News.
"I often see older blokes still running. They are bent over and struggling. I don't understand that. You're much better off taking it easy, trying to enjoy your exercise rather than busting your gut. It's better for you which is what it's all about."
Kirkpatrick sold his farm about two years ago. He still lives on the property near Gisborne. But he and his wife will shortly move into a new house just outside of the city. Kirkpatrick will join the peloton for the first two stages of the cycle tour – a distance of around 300km from Ngatea to New Plymouth.
"I reckon all farmers should look into Farmstrong and take on the simple tips it promotes about getting off the farm and checking in with mates and neighbours," he says. "I challenge all farmers to get involved with the Farmstrong Challenge and see how many kilometres you and your mates can do."
Farmstrong ambassador Ian Handcock says Farmstrong has set a collective goal for all farmers and growers.
The challenge is to head to the website and pledge a set number of kilometres you're willing to exercise – cycling, running, walking or swimming. The goal is to have travelled four million kilometres by June 2016.
Newly appointed National Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says his team is ready, excited and looking forward to delivering the four-day event next month.
More than 70 farmers from across the North and South Islands recently spent a dayand- a-half learning new business management and planning skills at Rabobank Ag Pathways Programmes held in Invercargill, Ashburton and Hawera.
Government ministers cannot miss the ‘SOS’ – save our sheep call - from New Zealand farmers.
A tax advisory specialist is hailing a 20% tax deduction to spur business asset purchases as a golden opportunity for agribusiness.
Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.
The head of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers organisation NZKGI says the points raised in a report about the sector by Waikato University professor Frank Scrimgeour were not a surprise.
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