You know, the shearing industry’s been under the pump lately, with fewer people in the sheds, longer days, and tougher conditions all around. And when the pressure ramps up like that, it really can take a toll on your mental fitness.

In this first episode of the Being Farmstrong podcast series Live Well, Shear Well, Hamish McKay chats with shearing legend Rowland Smith about the launch of Live Well Shear Well, the realities crews are facing in the sheds, and, more importantly, how to look after your wellbeing when the work gets intense. 

You know, the shearing industry&rsquo;s been under the pump lately, with fewer people in the sheds, longer days, and tougher conditions all around. And when the pressure ramps up like that, it really can take a toll on your mental fitness.
In this first episode of the Being Farmstrong podcast series Live Well, Shear Well, Hamish McKay chats with shearing legend Rowland Smith about the launch of Live Well Shear Well, the realities crews are facing in the sheds, and, more importantly, how to look after your wellbeing when the work gets intense.&nbsp;

Jamie Mackay delivers your daily fix of everything going on in NZ's biggest industry, along with a generous side-serve of news, sports and politics. The Country from Newstalk ZB, Hokonui and Gold Sport.

Jamie Mackay delivers your daily fix of everything going on in NZ's biggest industry, along with a generous side-serve of news, sports and politics. The Country from Newstalk ZB, Hokonui and Gold Sport.

The Country

Being Farmstrong:  Live Well, Shear Well 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/605e3efc-1f91-4df1-a7cb-b4010033833f/transcript

Jamie Mackay talks to Simon Lee, Hunter McGregor, Jen Corkran, Sir Ian Taylor, and Shane Jones. 

Jamie Mackay talks to Simon Lee, Hunter McGregor, Jen Corkran, Sir Ian Taylor, and Shane Jones.&nbsp;

Rabobank Best of The Country: April 4, 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6f54b4c2-27c5-4317-84d2-b42000527d56/transcript

Farmstrong’s become a name a lot of farmers know and trust and for good reason. Last year alone, more than 20,000 farmers and growers around New Zealand said Farmstrong helped improve their wellbeing.

In this episode of the Being Farmstrong podcast, host Hamish McKay sits down with the man behind the movement, Farmstrong CEO Gerard Vaughan, to talk about how it all started and where Farmstrong’s heading next. You’ll also hear from Canterbury farmer and Farmstrong Champion Geoff Spark, who shares his own story of resilience, why gratitude matters on farm, why making mental skills a part of your day is just as important as being physically active, and how any one of us can be the one to kick off a conversation.

Farmstrong&rsquo;s become a name a lot of farmers know and trust and for good reason. Last year alone, more than 20,000 farmers and growers around New Zealand said Farmstrong helped improve their wellbeing.
In this episode of the&nbsp;Being Farmstrong podcast, host Hamish McKay sits down with the man behind the movement, Farmstrong CEO Gerard Vaughan, to talk about how it all started and where Farmstrong&rsquo;s heading next. You&rsquo;ll also hear from Canterbury farmer and Farmstrong Champion Geoff Spark, who shares his own story of resilience, why gratitude matters on farm, why making mental skills a part of your day is just as important as being physically active, and how any one of us can be the one to kick off a conversation.

BEING FARMSTRONG: Gerard Vaughan and Geoff Spark 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3c93b1fc-9a29-4fc2-b93c-b41f002b9478/transcript

Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Ray Smith, Vanessa Winning, Chris Russell, and Jeremy Rookes.

Jamie Mackay talks to Shane Jones, Ray Smith, Vanessa Winning, Chris Russell, and Jeremy Rookes.

The Country Full Show: Thursday, April 2, 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ddf6604b-33f2-4d3f-bd9f-b420000328a7/transcript

Being Farmstrong: Live Well, Shear Well

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