April 15, 2025 • 7 mins
Canterbury dairy farmer and Farmstrong champion, who was heavily involved in the recent "Harvesting Health" evening – a joint effort between Rural Support Trust and Farmstrong.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Monthly here on the country we catch up with a
farm strong farmer. Today it's the turn of Jeff Spark,
Canterbury dairy farmer and farm Strong Champion. He joins me.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Now, good afternoon, Jeff, Good afternoon Areena.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Now we've got an amazing event to talk about. But
first just tell me about your farming operation there in Canterbury.
Where are you? What are your farm? How many cows?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Okay, yeah, we're at Irwell and North Canterbury. We've got
two seven hundred care farms flat land, all irrigated, and
I'm also involved in our family operation where I grew up,
which is on the outskirts Arendura, where we milk another
six hundred cares.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Beautiful part of the country. How's this season been going
for you? It's actually, as far as I understand, being
pretty kind.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, look overall it has been pretty kind. Christmas, New
Year and into Februry was reason me challenging with your
long irrigation restriction. So we're on a bit of an
IPHD for six or eight weeks, but then we got
some and the rivers come up and we're back on
irrigation again. So it looks like we're in for quite
(01:07):
a good finish to the season. Fingers crossed.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, and that's exactly what you want with the milk
price up. Look, you're involved with Farmstrong and the Rural
Support Trust. Where did that come from? What inspired you
to get involved with those two amazing organizations?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Real Support Trust. I got sort of shoulder tapped to
see if i'd come as a facilitator for that, and
that was about three or four years ago, and I said, yeah,
and I would be happy to help out. It's a
great organization helping rural people who need a bit of
a hand. So that was something I was very happy
to sort of get involved with and support Farm Throng.
(01:45):
I was actually looking for a charity. We host a
trithlon on the farm every year, and the event organizer
insisted he gave me something for hosting it, and I said, well,
I don't actually want to, I want to give it
to charity. So I looked up and I found Farm Strong.
I loved that live well, Farm Well motto that Farmstrong
(02:06):
runs by, and I thought that's the charity I want
to support. So that was the start of it, and
then yeah, it sort of evolved into getting helping them
out with different events, and yeah, I'm very happy to
support the work Farmstrong's doing. They're doing a great job.
Farm Strong and Real Support Trust are really doing some
(02:27):
great work in the rural community.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Recently, you WICKI really involved in the harvesting health events
in Rungiura. Tell me a bit about that.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah. Sure. So a local physio and mine fulness expert
Joe Hobbinson Hay she ran the event last year actually,
which I attended and took some mates along and it
was really good and she was a bit disappointed with
the turnout and she called me a week later and said,
you know what was my sort of feedback? And look,
(02:56):
I said, like, I think you've got great content, Joe,
but perhaps needs a you know, a bit of support
wrap around you. And we set up a committee and
let's do it again, and we also add in a
bit more. We sort of flesh it out with a
bit more sort of connection time and socializing and sort
of changed the format a little bit. So yeah, so
we got a committee together with Real Support Trust and
farm from came on board, and we got some sponsors
(03:18):
from Main Power, Fontira, Rabi Bank and FMG and yeah,
we delivered the event at the end of last month,
had a really good turnout, great feedback from those that attended,
so it was a really really positive event. And so
it's all about providing people with some tip sister, you know,
how to improve their health and well being. And nothing
(03:41):
sort of new it was, but it was just done
it with a slightly different approach and a real practical,
sort of hands on, easy to understand approach. So now
we had some great feedback.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
From the night, Yeah, brilliant. What were some of the
key messages that were provided for farmers to take home
and adapt into their own situations.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
I think one of the main ones through and is connection.
You know, the importance of connection and being connected, and
that comes in many different forms. But certainly, you know,
farming is often quite an isolating occupation, but it's really
important for people to get off arm and go and
connect with your mates and socialize. That's really really good
(04:20):
for your well being. Also, exercise and that's really important
too for your health and wellbeing, and that comes in
many shapes and forms, and it might be a lot
of a group of mates we go and do regular
bike rides and that's that actually takes a couple of boxes.
It's exercise, but it's also connection and often we'll go
(04:40):
out for a beer afterwards, so we probably we probably
un'tdo all the good work we've done on the boat,
but you know it's really good because you have that
social connection as well. So once again you know, real
simple messaging, but they provide some good real life stories.
Also breathing, so Joe's a breathing technique expert and the
importance of breathing to reduce stress, anxiety and also pain.
(05:06):
And I actually had somebody who attended the evening call
me just a few days ago and she said that
that breathing information was really good and she now practices
it every time she heads off the bed. You know,
she does her sort of long deep breast and it
just helps calm her in preparation for bed. So just yeah,
some good practical things that were shared on the night.
(05:28):
Joe was there and we had Shane Fletcher, he's the
X campaign manager for in zed Rugby. He spoke about
managing teams and John Roach, he's the lead physiotherapist for
the Crusaders, has been for many many years. He talked
about the positive influences of exercise and how important it
is to keep your body moving.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, fantastic, And of course you have the incredible Otago
High Country sheep and beef farmer Jack Cox topping off
the speaking. He is amazing. I recorded a Farmstrong pod
cast with Jack a couple of years back. It's certainly
worth a listen. Just google Jack Cox's Farm Strong podcast.
Spent eleven years recovering from a life threatening brain and
(06:10):
eurysm multiple surgeries. Jeff the man is an absolute legend.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Hi is Rohena. I was great having Jack with us
for the evening and he was sort of our main
speaker and he shared his story and like you really,
when you hear somebody's true story from the heart, you
know there's some great learnings from that, and so I
was wonderful to have him to share his story. He
(06:36):
focused on the value of purpose and the importance of
having support and key people around you to get through adversity.
So some great messaging from Jack there.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Absolutely Jeff Spark, Canterbury dairy farmer, Farm Strong Champion involved
in the Rural Support Trust as well. You really did
it all. Thank you so much for your time today
and congratulations on an exceptional harvesting health event last month.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well done, thanks, very not goodbye.
Monthly here on the country we catch up with a
farm strong farmer. Today it's the turn of Jeff Spark,
Canterbury dairy farmer and farm Strong Champion. He joins me.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Now, good afternoon, Jeff, Good afternoon Areena.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Now we've got an amazing event to talk about. But
first just tell me about your farming operation there in Canterbury.
Where are you? What are your farm? How many cows?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Okay, yeah, we're at Irwell and North Canterbury. We've got
two seven hundred care farms flat land, all irrigated, and
I'm also involved in our family operation where I grew up,
which is on the outskirts Arendura, where we milk another
six hundred cares.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Beautiful part of the country. How's this season been going
for you? It's actually, as far as I understand, being
pretty kind.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yeah, look overall it has been pretty kind. Christmas, New
Year and into Februry was reason me challenging with your
long irrigation restriction. So we're on a bit of an
IPHD for six or eight weeks, but then we got
some and the rivers come up and we're back on
irrigation again. So it looks like we're in for quite
(01:07):
a good finish to the season. Fingers crossed.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, and that's exactly what you want with the milk
price up. Look, you're involved with Farmstrong and the Rural
Support Trust. Where did that come from? What inspired you
to get involved with those two amazing organizations?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Real Support Trust. I got sort of shoulder tapped to
see if i'd come as a facilitator for that, and
that was about three or four years ago, and I said, yeah,
and I would be happy to help out. It's a
great organization helping rural people who need a bit of
a hand. So that was something I was very happy
to sort of get involved with and support Farm Throng.
(01:45):
I was actually looking for a charity. We host a
trithlon on the farm every year, and the event organizer
insisted he gave me something for hosting it, and I said, well,
I don't actually want to, I want to give it
to charity. So I looked up and I found Farm Strong.
I loved that live well, Farm Well motto that Farmstrong
(02:06):
runs by, and I thought that's the charity I want
to support. So that was the start of it, and
then yeah, it sort of evolved into getting helping them
out with different events, and yeah, I'm very happy to
support the work Farmstrong's doing. They're doing a great job.
Farm Strong and Real Support Trust are really doing some
(02:27):
great work in the rural community.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Recently, you WICKI really involved in the harvesting health events
in Rungiura. Tell me a bit about that.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yeah. Sure. So a local physio and mine fulness expert
Joe Hobbinson Hay she ran the event last year actually,
which I attended and took some mates along and it
was really good and she was a bit disappointed with
the turnout and she called me a week later and said,
you know what was my sort of feedback? And look,
(02:56):
I said, like, I think you've got great content, Joe,
but perhaps needs a you know, a bit of support
wrap around you. And we set up a committee and
let's do it again, and we also add in a
bit more. We sort of flesh it out with a
bit more sort of connection time and socializing and sort
of changed the format a little bit. So yeah, so
we got a committee together with Real Support Trust and
farm from came on board, and we got some sponsors
(03:18):
from Main Power, Fontira, Rabi Bank and FMG and yeah,
we delivered the event at the end of last month,
had a really good turnout, great feedback from those that attended,
so it was a really really positive event. And so
it's all about providing people with some tip sister, you know,
how to improve their health and well being. And nothing
(03:41):
sort of new it was, but it was just done
it with a slightly different approach and a real practical,
sort of hands on, easy to understand approach. So now
we had some great feedback.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
From the night, Yeah, brilliant. What were some of the
key messages that were provided for farmers to take home
and adapt into their own situations.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
I think one of the main ones through and is connection.
You know, the importance of connection and being connected, and
that comes in many different forms. But certainly, you know,
farming is often quite an isolating occupation, but it's really
important for people to get off arm and go and
connect with your mates and socialize. That's really really good
(04:20):
for your well being. Also, exercise and that's really important
too for your health and wellbeing, and that comes in
many shapes and forms, and it might be a lot
of a group of mates we go and do regular
bike rides and that's that actually takes a couple of boxes.
It's exercise, but it's also connection and often we'll go
(04:40):
out for a beer afterwards, so we probably we probably
un'tdo all the good work we've done on the boat,
but you know it's really good because you have that
social connection as well. So once again you know, real
simple messaging, but they provide some good real life stories.
Also breathing, so Joe's a breathing technique expert and the
importance of breathing to reduce stress, anxiety and also pain.
(05:06):
And I actually had somebody who attended the evening call
me just a few days ago and she said that
that breathing information was really good and she now practices
it every time she heads off the bed. You know,
she does her sort of long deep breast and it
just helps calm her in preparation for bed. So just yeah,
some good practical things that were shared on the night.
(05:28):
Joe was there and we had Shane Fletcher, he's the
X campaign manager for in zed Rugby. He spoke about
managing teams and John Roach, he's the lead physiotherapist for
the Crusaders, has been for many many years. He talked
about the positive influences of exercise and how important it
is to keep your body moving.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, fantastic, And of course you have the incredible Otago
High Country sheep and beef farmer Jack Cox topping off
the speaking. He is amazing. I recorded a Farmstrong pod
cast with Jack a couple of years back. It's certainly
worth a listen. Just google Jack Cox's Farm Strong podcast.
Spent eleven years recovering from a life threatening brain and
(06:10):
eurysm multiple surgeries. Jeff the man is an absolute legend.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Hi is Rohena. I was great having Jack with us
for the evening and he was sort of our main
speaker and he shared his story and like you really,
when you hear somebody's true story from the heart, you
know there's some great learnings from that, and so I
was wonderful to have him to share his story. He
(06:36):
focused on the value of purpose and the importance of
having support and key people around you to get through adversity.
So some great messaging from Jack there.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Absolutely Jeff Spark, Canterbury dairy farmer, Farm Strong Champion involved
in the Rural Support Trust as well. You really did
it all. Thank you so much for your time today
and congratulations on an exceptional harvesting health event last month.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Well done, thanks, very not goodbye.
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