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Our mission is to inspire and encourage rural communities to improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity.

Welcome to
Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative

It all started back in 2012 when three farmers at Maitland on Yorke Peninsula (SA) started going to the gym. And this original group is still going strong! The below clip shows their Friday morning gym sessions and is a great visual snapshot of what Fat Farmers is all about! Each of our groups has it's own identity. Some are men only but many are inclusive of women and also children. And it's not all about going to the gym. We have a couple of walking groups too...

Find your local group on the map & get involved!
Or contact us to start a new group for your community...

Classes may change — check with your local Champion or Trainer for the latest details.

Upcoming Events

  • Breakthrough Mates Meals & Mental Health
    Breakthrough Mates Meals & Mental Health
    Wed, 03 June
    Loxton North Football Club
    03 June 2026, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm ACST
    Loxton North Football Club, Balfour Ogilvy Ave, Loxton North SA 5333, Australia
    We are partnering with Breakthrough to help deliver their Mates Means at Loxton North. Joined by guest speakers, John Mannion, Tom Jonas and Marc Ryan, free dinners are provided for those who register. Supported by the SA Government's $117 million Drought Support Package.
  • Barmera Sheep Dog Trials
    Barmera Sheep Dog Trials
    Sat, 06 June
    Barmera Club
    06 June 2026, 9:00 am ACST – 07 June 2026, 4:00 pm ACST
    Barmera Club, 149 Dean Dr, Barmera SA 5345, Australia
    6 & 7 June 2026 - we're heading to the Sheep Dog Trials in Barmera! Excited to have the Health Hub with us, and SiSU Health Group who will be delivering FREE bloo glucose and cholesterol checks over the two days.
  • LambEx 2026
    LambEx 2026
    Tue, 07 July
    Adelaide Convention Centre
    07 July 2026, 6:00 am ACST – 10 July 2026, 6:00 pm ACST
    Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
    We're back and are excited to announce we're the Health & Wellbeing Partner this year! Join us for group morning movement Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Run4Resilience Kojonup
    Run4Resilience Kojonup
    Sun, 02 Aug
    3747 Broomehill-Kojonup Rd
    02 Aug 2026, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm AWST
    3747 Broomehill-Kojonup Rd, 3747 Broomehill-Kojonup Rd, Kojonup WA 6395, Australia
    Kojonup is the first event in our 2026 run series! Sunday 2nd August, running throughout the morning and wrapped up by lunchtime at 3747 Broomehill Road, Kojonup - 6395. Lock in the date, set your goal, and come along to run, walk or roll — and kick some butt.
  • Run4Resilience Padthaway
    Run4Resilience Padthaway
    Sun, 09 Aug
    Padthaway
    09 Aug 2026, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm ACST
    Padthaway, Padthaway SA 5271, Australia
    The event is coming to Padthaway on Sunday 9th August, running throughout the morning and wrapped up by lunchtime at Padthaway, South Australia. Lock in the date, set your goal, and come along to run, walk or roll — and kick some butt.
  • Run4Resilience Katanning
    Run4Resilience Katanning
    Sun, 16 Aug
    28694 Great Southern Hwy
    16 Aug 2026, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm AWST
    28694 Great Southern Hwy, 28694 Great Southern Hwy, Katanning WA 6317, Australia
    In 2026 the event returns on Sunday 16th August, running throughout the morning and wrapped up by lunchtime at 28694 Great Southern Highway, Katanning WA 6317. Lock in the date, set your goal, and come along to run, walk or roll — and kick some butt.
  • Run4Resilience Bonnie Doon
    Run4Resilience Bonnie Doon
    Sun, 06 Sept
    Bonnie Doon
    06 Sept 2026, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm AEST
    Bonnie Doon, Bonnie Doon VIC 3720, Australia
    In 2026 the event makes its way to Bonnie Doon on Sunday 6th September, running throughout the morning and wrapped up before lunchtime at Property is 200m down Ancona Road, Bonnie Doon - 3715. Lock in the date, set your goal, and come along to run or walk — and kick some butt.
  • City to Bay 2026
    City to Bay 2026
    Sun, 20 Sept
    Glenelg
    20 Sept 2026, 6:00 am – 4:00 pm ACST
    Glenelg, Glenelg SA 5045, Australia
    Start your training and prepare for this year's City to Bay! Registrations open soon. More information to come closer to event. https://city-bay.org.au/
Grapevine

  Recent Media  

2026 03 01 7News.png
"Fat Fighters"
1 March 2026

“A rural health initiative begun in South Australia is now making inroads across the nation, getting farmers out of their tractors and into the gym.” - 7News
IMG_8507.HEIC
"Fat Farmers launches mobile health hub offering free health checks"
12 December 2025

“To get rural men to have a health check can be hard, but people feel comfortable because we are grassroots and farmer-driven.” - Stock Journal
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