'Surfing for Farmers' initiative wins national award

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Surfing for Farmers initiative created by Gisborne’s Stephen Thomson won the FMG-sponsored Rural Champion Award when the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards were handed out in Christchurch recently.

The now nationwide farmer mental health and wellbeing initiative started out in Gisborne and has grown to 28 locations across the country.

The judges said it was hard not to give Surfing for Farmers a perfect score.

“Surfing for Farmers has grown to reach a large national audience, last summer hosting over 4000 farmers, has novel, enabled connections and high impact in supporting farmers’ wellbeing,” the judges said.

The programme, which is run by volunteers, had maintained sponsorship and had grown significantly in its scope and impact.

More than  300 people attended the B+LNZ awards, which recognise the people, the technologies and innovations that contribute so much to New Zealand’s world-leading red meat sector.

Kate Acland, chairman of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, said she was blown away by the calibre of the finalists.

“Sheep and beef farmers are often quite humble in their nature, but it is essential we put ourselves forward, that we celebrate our success and share our stories with wider New Zealand.

“It is going to be a tough season, and in tough times, it is more important than ever to celebrate the sector’s many achievements.”

The fill list of winners will be in Focus on the Land this weekend.