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26/05/2026
Members of Rabobank's Kadina branch join in during a local Fat Farmers gym session.
It’s not hard for rural and regional folk to consider themselves invincible.
Working from dawn to dusk in physically demanding roles, during seasons and markets largely beyond control, rural communities are tough.
Consequentially, the health, fitness, and wellbeing of our farmers can easily be deprioritised.
Yet for over a decade now, the community-led initiative ‘Fat Farmers’ has been redefining health and fitness in rural areas through group fitness opportunities, gaining a keen following in South Australia and now across Australia whilst reimagining rural wellbeing.
From humble beginnings when three farmers from Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula started going to the local gym – joking that at over 40 and no longer playing footy they risked becoming ‘fat farmers’ – the health initiative is now a Registered Charity , governed by its own Constitution and Board.
And having recently integrated with Active Farmers, they now have over 80 groups Australia-wide.
Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative CEO, Richard Sheppy, knows personally the life-changing impact of an initiative like Fat Farmers.
“I drank too much, smoked too much, ate too much and worked too much,” he reflects candidly. “I was 117kg and always thought of myself as being fit and healthy, like many other farmers in their 40’s!
Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative CEO, Richard Sheppy.
In 2022, a bladder cancer diagnosis changed everything.
“I’d ignored the symptoms, was always too busy to go to the doctor, didn’t want to consider that I could have something wrong and really did think I was bullet-proof.”
“Fortunately, I got onto it in time, and I’ve since made a lot of lifestyle changes – I run, ride and go to the gym, and Fat Farmers makes this accessible, and enjoyable.”
Originally from the UK, Richard moved to Australia in 2006 to manage a farm in the Keith district of South Australia – and the distances and isolation of rural and regional Australia was instantly apparent.
“I went from running 800 hectare potato and onion farm in the UK, to a 20,000 hectare livestock and horticulture property in Australia, which was hugely eye-opening, and with young children I realised first-hand the support rural and regional families require.”
Discovering Fat Farmers in 2021, and albeit still in its infancy, Richard’s appreciation for the initiative is personal, and he’s proud to now be in a position to contribute to an organisation with such a vast impact.
“To see the initial vision of those three farmers, Ben Wundersitz, Greg Hean and Scott Hoyle, and the momentum Fat Farmers has enjoyed demonstrates the need for the service, and the fact that the model is right.”
Fat Farmers and Active Farmers rural health initiatives are encouraging fitness and wellbeing through group exercise.
Beyond physical fitness, the social benefits the three farmers discovered once they started regularly going to the gym were equally valuable, and today Fat Farmers inspires both positive physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“At the time, it was virtually unheard of for blokes to go to the gym – with 99 per cent of gym memberships female,” Richard explains.
“The guys started organising sidewalk BBQ’s outside the gym to encourage other farmers to come along, and the concept quickly spread.”
In reference to the light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek name, Richard laughs that you don’t have to be fat, or a farmer, to join the movement, and many of the groups are inclusive of women and children.
Having joined the board in 2022, in September last year Richard stepped up as CEO, and his vision for the future is to ensure that every regional and rural community has access to a Fat Farmers, or Active Farmers, group.
The integration of Fat Farmers and Active Farmers is exciting progression, combining a shared passion and purpose to improve the health and wellbeing of farmers and rural communities.
“We now have over 80 groups of people exercising under the Fat Farmers and Active Farmers banners,” Richard explains. “The not-for-profit space is tough, so we’re reducing duplication, costs, and overheads whilst doubling the impact, which makes sense – we’re all about collaboration, not competition, and it’s exciting to go forward together.”
Khancoban Active Farmers group - maintaining health and wellness through group fitness.
The Fat Farmers Mobile Health Hub, built to deliver on-the-spot medical screening to farmers, is the group’s latest resource, and enabling access to education and screenings is something close to Richard’s heart.
“Providing this sort of service on the ground in rural communities will help break down some of the barriers country people face.”
“Personally, I didn’t want to talk about my health or my mental wellness, but we’ve come so far, and to now have this trusted safe-space run by like-minded rural people is a real asset.”
“There’s a perception that rural men need to be ‘tough’ and ‘have it together’, and we want to give space for people to be ok with not having it all together.”
Partnering with health specialists to provide a range of screenings from the truck, there’s already a tangible impact being made within rural communities.
“We offered skin checks at the recent Keith show, which resulted in the detection of melanomas in two visitors, and these are the stories you hear that make you realise the difference we can make to someone’s life.”
Nearly 500 free health tests - heart health, health and lifestyle, skin checks and diabetes tests - have been conducted across seven events since July 2025.
The Fat Farmers Mobile Health Hub delivers on-the-spot medical screening across rural and regional areas.
Rabo Client Council contributing to improved health outcomes
As long-term supporters of Fat Farmers, Richard said the organisation was extremely grateful for the support of the South Australian Rabo Client Council and Rabo Community Fund, and the network the opportunity affords.
“Rabobank was one of our first supporters, the bank recognised and understood what Fat Farmers was trying to do, and it’s given us opportunity to grow.”
“Rabobank’s Roger Matthews has been phenomenal in his advocacy, and I always enjoy running with him, and Claire Catford, who is part of the South Australian Rabo Client Council has also been exceptionally supportive.”
There are five regional Rabo Client Councils, made up of Rabobank clients recommending where resources are best allocated.
It’s a direct opportunity for clients to advance the local grass roots initiatives and ideas that are important and needed in their community.
Mark Northcott and Eric Wilson out of Rabobank's Kadina Branch still smiling during a Fat Farmers gym session.
As a cooperative bank that has a long history of community engagement, Richard feels this sentiment.
“I’ve never felt Rabobank’s support has been for any sort of commercial gain, we know the intentions are genuine, and as two organisations who want the best for rural and regional Australia, there are a lot of synergies in what we’re trying to do.”
At the recent Wimmera Field Days, and small events in the Nhill/Warracknabeal region, Rabobank staff and guest speakers joined in a Fat Farmers walk, and at the SE Field Days and Keith Show Rabobank staff volunteered at the organisation’s fundraising lunch.
From hosting a ‘Talk and Walk’ with Fat Farmers and scholars at last year’s Nuffield Conference, through to collaborating again as Health and Wellbeing partners at this year’s LambEx in Adelaide, Richard applauded Rabobank for not just “talking the talk, but walking the walk – quite literally”.
Rabobank staff from across South Australia, North West Victoria and Northern Territory including a Fat Farmers group walk at Murray Bridge during a recent team offsite.
“At LambEx in 2024 we had about 100 people roll up for a morning run – and whether it’s through Fat Farmers or a local run club, the momentum being made in this space is extraordinary.”
“We want to break the mould that these national events are all about the social events in the evening and make a morning run or walk something to get equally excited about.”
“Historically, I’m naturally quite an introvert, so getting out of my comfort zone, and meeting new people who I wouldn’t otherwise, is so positive.’
“We have people in their 20s through to their 70s, and learning about others is so valuable – particularly for our younger generation who haven’t experienced the challenging seasons we’ve had recently, hearing from those who have been through drought before provides perspective.”
“Most rural men think they’re prioritising their health and fitness and social connections over 40, but the reality is they’re not – Fat Farmers gives them a trusted, welcoming and fun platform, and the results speak for themselves.”
Nyabing Active Farmers group welcomes members young and old.