About Us
Fat Farmers works with farmers and rural community members of all genders, ages and physical ability. We encourage farmers to train together, form support networks and ultimately, improve physical and mental health outcomes.
Our Vision
By 2022, to inspire and encourage rural communities to improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity.
The Fat Farmers – Rural Health Initiative was started in 2010 by a small group of farmers from Maitland, Yorke Peninsula, SA who recognised that they needed to get more active as farm work alone was not providing them with enough exercise to stay healthy. The group started training at the local gym and participating in the annual City-Bay Fun Run from Adelaide to Glenelg. In 2015, the initiative spread beyond Yorke Peninsula and connected with other farmers across South Australia. Fat Farmer teams are now located throughout South Australia and include farmers and rural people from diverse production areas and cater for a variety of fitness levels and ages.
Everyone working in or with rural Australia is welcome to join us as we know that we are not the only ones finding it hard to keep fit ! Whilst some may make assumptions based upon our name, we are inclusive of all fitness levels, shapes and sizes and there is no stereotyping or stigmatising of participants.
What we do :
We participate in local fun runs/walks, bike rides and train in local communities and gyms together. Our activities are family-friendly and have a focus on having fun. The video below features Ben Wundersitz and many of the original Fat Farmers and was filmed in the Maitland gym.
Fun Runs/Walks
We participate in local fun runs, walks and bike rides
Communities & Gyms
Train in local communities and gyms together
Family Friendly
Our activities are family-friendly and have a focus on having fun
Founders
Ben Wundersitz is one of the founders of Fat Farmers and is a fifth generation Grains farmer from Yorke Peninsula. His fitness goals are to stay fit enough to do active things with his family and maintain his resilience to manage his cropping enterprise. Ben sees Fat Farmers groups are a way of encouraging the farming community to present a positive image and being involved provides a way of giving something back to the community. Ben describes the impact of improving health, wellbeing and safety has had upon his own health and his business in this brief film.
Team Coordinators
Become a Team Coordinator
Inspire your community members, organise training sessions, keep an eye out for local events while improving your fitness!
We welcome volunteers and fitness professionals to talk to us about starting a new team in your region.
Reach Us
Contact Sally for more information
Sally Fisher
Fat Farmers
Executive Officer
0410 473 167
