Thirty farmers from across New Zealand now have the chance to further develop their wave riding skills having recently been awarded new surfboards as part of a competition run across the 2024/25 Surfing For Farmers (SFF) season.
The competition, run by SFF premier sponsor Rabobank, saw surfboards awarded to at least one lucky participant at each of the 25 SFF locations around New Zealand with competition winners announced by local Rabobank staff at SFF events during late February and March.
Rabobank New Zealand Country Banking general manager Bruce Weir said local Rabobank employees had been tasked with picking the surfboard recipients, with the winners selected on the basis of the contribution they’d made to SFF over the course of the season.
“Some of our winners were selected simply because they turned up every single week, while others were chosen because of the effort they’d made to help get others along to sessions, or their willingness to help out SFF organisers,” he said.
“We also wanted to make sure we chose farmers who we were confident would get plenty of use out of the boards, and I’ve no doubt the winners who were selected will do just that.”
Left to Right Hannah Green – LIC, Matt Goodwin, Tom Abernethy – Rabobank
One of the first boards presented went to Temuka-based dairy farmer Matt Goodwin – a regular at the Kakanui beach edition of SFF near Oamaru. Mr Goodwin was chosen as the surfboard winner having made the one hour twenty-minute drive to the event every week along with a carload of mates.
“The car ride provides a great opportunity to catch-up, and we cover a fair few topics across the ride there and back,” Mr Goodwin said.
“We all really enjoy getting away, getting in the water and having a few laughs,”
Mr Goodwin said winning the new surfboard topped off a great season of SFF.
“It’s such an awesome event. There’s a great bunch of people there and Jeremy (the course surf coach) does a great job looking after us all,” he said.
“I’ve already taken the new board out for a few surfs, and I’m also planning to hire a board and get a few surfs in when I head to Hawaii on my honeymoon later in the year.”
Another of the surfboard winners, Cheryl Wagener, a sheep, beef and dairy farmer from Waihue in Northland, said she loved the “energy, enthusiasm and vibes” of the SFF sessions she attended at Sandy Bay.
“It wasn’t easy getting to the sessions as we live an hour and a half away, but was always rewarding when I did,” she said.
“This summer we have made the extra effort and brought my seven-year-old daughter along as she has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and we are giving her as many experiences as possible.
“Winning the surfboard has been extra special as she too has developed a passion for surfing, therefore we now can continue chasing those waves together whilst she can.”
Long-term Rabobank involvement
Launched in Gisborne in 2018, SFF encourages farmers to take a couple of hours each week to head to the surf to help better manage stress and improve mental health. The initiative has gone from strength to strength over recent years and more than 1000 farmers have attended events across the summer. The weekly sessions wrap with a barbecue and drinks providing farmers with a chance to relax, grab a bite to eat and get to know some of the other participants.
Mr Weir said Rabobank has been involved with SFF since its inception and Rabobank staff have played key roles in supporting the sessions at locations up and down the country.
“Our Client Council network identified mental wellness as one of the key challenges facing rural communities way back in 2012 shortly after the councils were formed. For many years now, we’ve been teaming up with other partners to develop initiatives to help address this issue, and SFF is undoubtedly an initiative that has made a massive impact in this space.”
“We’re incredibly proud to be one of the premier sponsors of the SFF programme and the fantastic work it’s doing to reduce farmers’ stress and improve well-being. The events are free and provide an opportunity for those new to the sport to receive lessons and tips from a qualified instructor,” he said.
“Over recent years, I’ve managed to get along to SFF sessions at a few different locations –including Raglan and Ohope – and I always come away feeling that the programme really is making a positive difference for the farmers who head along.”