Nufarm partners with Active Farmers to help improve regional resilience

For over 100 years, Nufarm has been an important partner to growers and industry in Agriculture.

Nufarm Australia is proud to announce our partnership with Active Farmers, a Not for Profit (NFP) organisation who are committed to building stronger and more resilient farming communities.

“Improving the health and wellbeing of regional communities is a shared goal for Nufarm and Active Farmers. Nufarm’s support of Active Farmers seeks to assist them in continuing their growth and helping farmers and their communities connect and participate in health activities which we know are important” says Peter O’Keeffe, Nufarm’s Commercial General Manager.

“Active Farmers provides over 200 fitness classes per month with over 1500 participants in over 50 small farming communities across the country. We all know that there is a high prevalence of mental illness in the bush and our farmers are approximately twice as likely to take their lives by suicide. Our goal is to address this through activity, connection and health and wellbeing” says Ginny Stevens, Founder of Active Farmers.

As Australian Through & Through, Nufarm’s team members live and participate in regional communities and understand the issues of connectivity, remoteness, physical and mental health and the importance of community. Through our partnership with Active Farmers, we are committed to ensuring these communities thrive.

Image Left to Right: Nufarm Australia Commercial General Manager, Peter O’Keeffe, Active Farmers Founder Ginny Stevens, Nufarm Australia Key Account Manager Daniel Gestier.

Active Farmers has grown since its humble beginnings. In 2015 in Mangoplah, Southern NSW, Ginny Stevens founded Active Farmers to bring the entire community together through regular group fitness classes in a fun and interactive environment. The classes were designed to mimic the ‘team sport effect’ and create a sense of community and belonging.

“Since then, Active Farmers has evolved to provide a variety of community-based events such as Active Farmers Games (think Tough Mudder for farmers), Ride for Resilience (fundraising bike rides) and Run for Resilience (fun-run and walk),” Ginny said.

Nufarm’s culture is anchored on safety and this includes wellbeing. “Through partnerships with Active Farmers, “Are you Bogged, Mate?”, Western AG Supporting Communities and other National initiatives, as well regional and local sponsorships through our teams, Nufarm seeks to facilitate positive impact in the communities in which we live and operate,” says Peter.

Nufarm’s commitment to health and wellbeing was recently recognised in the awarding of the AFR Boss’ Best Place to Work in Agriculture, Mining and Utilities in April 2022.

You can learn more about Active Farmers here, and Nufarm here.