Over the years, we have seen machines getting bigger and technology replacing many of the physical activities associated with the job so, for many, farming is now a far less physically active career than it once was.
The world of farming is undoubtedly changing and the profile of the industry has too. In 2019 women made up 17% of ‘farmers’ however data from the ONS for 2023 shows that, of the 104,700 registered ‘farmers’, 22% are now female. When it comes to ‘managers in agricultural services’, women make up 32% of the workforce and, recent figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that 64% of agricultural students are women.
For an industry that has traditionally been male-oriented, and which used to exclude women from many of its educational establishments, farming has come a long way.
No more can this be seen than comparing how ditches were dug years ago, how fertiliser bags weighing over 50kgs used to be hoisted by hand, bags of seed weighing 75kg were lifted by one person and ATVs and telehandlers were not around to lift or transport heavy farming equipment, feed or animals. And there were robots to scrape the manure from cowsheds…
It would be safe to say that farming has changed.
So, does this mean that farmers no longer need to stay fit to farm?
Absolutely not! Britain’s Fittest Farmer, a competition, launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018, aimed to spark a conversation about farmers physical and mental health. As farming becomes less active and more mechanised and office-based, organisers felt it was more important than ever to make sure Britain’s farmers get the exercise they need to stay fit and healthy.
One of the biggest supporters of the competition is Tom Kemp, an Essex arable farmer’s son and the driving force behind Farm Fitness.
Tom has been involved with Britain’s Fittest Farmer since day one and urges farmers of all ages to do some form of physical exercise. He believes: “You don’t necessarily need to go to a gym and you certainly don’t need expensive kit – you can do a workout with a tractor tyre or a sandbag.”
“Even a gentle jog round the farm or a long walk with the dogs will do you good.”
This no-nonsense approach is reflected in what awaits entrants to this year’s BFF competition as they navigate a series of tough physical challenges designed to test speed, strength and stamina, some of which actually do involve tractor tyres and sandbags !
Ryan Wood, from competition organiser Farmer’s Weekly, explains the thought process behind this competition: “Farming is well known to be an isolating job, so these events are a great opportunity for people to get off the farm, train, compete and meet other people who share the same passion as them. The feel-good factor at both the qualification days and the final is fantastic and they’re always popular days in the Farmers Weekly calendar.”
He continues: “Physical exercise very often leads to an improvement in mental health so that’s why we encourage farmers up and down the country to keep fit and have fun doing it. Farming is physical work as we all know, and staying in the best shape possible will lead to less injuries and hopefully a clearer mind.’
Of course, this is something very close to our hearts and one of the reasons we are proud to be involved as a BFF charity partner with Farming Community Network and RSABI again this year.
If you’ve missed the cut-off for competing in this year’s competition, you can actually come along today, Thursday 25 July to the Royal Welsh Show and watch the last heat of this year’s competition before the finalists face the interview stage next month and one last challenge on 15 September – a physical assault course designed to test their speed, power and endurance after which, one man and one woman under 40 and one man and one woman over 40 will be crowned Britain’s Fittest Farmers 2024.
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