About Us
Fat Farmers started in 2012 when three farmers near Maitland on Yorke Peninsula, SA started going to the new local gym. They were over 40 and joked about becoming "Fat Farmers" now they were no longer playing footy.
The name stuck as the Maitland group grew and gradually other communities got involved...
Why the name 'Fat Farmers'?
Simply, it's a conversation starter.
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You don’t have to be fat, or even a farmer, to reap the benefits!
It captures the light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek banter that mates give each other, and the fun you can expect to have in our groups.
You are cheered for just turning up and having a crack, even if that’s still in your work boots! It doesn’t matter what you look like or what you wear.
Our
Story
The farmers soon realised that there were many benefits to be gained from regular exercise, so they started organising sidewalk BBQ’s outside the gym to encourage other farmers to come along. At the time, it was virtually unheard of for blokes to be going to the gym, reflected in the gym’s client-base being 99% female. But these days, head to the Maitland gym early on a Monday or Friday morning and you will find a room full of farmers being put through their paces!
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Over time, word spread and other ‘Fat Farmer’ groups started across South Australia. We welcomed our first
interstate group at Moama, NSW in 2023. While the initial purpose was simply to encourage farmers to be more active
and improve their physical health, those participating soon realised that there were also many benefits to their mental health (eg. regular exercise can help reduce stress, improve mental clarity, sleep quality and overall well-being).
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In 2021, Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative became an Incorporated Association and is now governed by its own Constitution and Board. After many years of being auspiced by other organisations, it was an important step to ensure long-term sustainability.​
Another milestone in our journey came in July 2024, when The Hospital Research Foundation Group came on board as our Major Health Partner until at least July 2026. The partnership is a great endorsement of everything we stand for in improving the health and wellbeing of our community, and we can’t wait to grow and expand our reach even more.
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Our next milestone came in November 2025, when we integrated with Active Farmers. A charity similar to ours, with the same mission and similar group structure, both sides saw this as only a positive opportunity. Our group number has doubled, from 40 to 80, and we're now happy to say we're 'Nation-wide' with groups throughout SA, WA, Vic, NSW, Qld and Tas.
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Along with our Board Members, the Fat Farmers team now consists of our CEO (Richard Sheppy), Executive Officer (Jane Brine), Community Engagement Coordinators (Michael Williams (Fat Farmers Groups) & Boyd Rae (Active Farmers Groups)), Brand & Communication Coordinator (Emerson Fielke) and Admin & Special Project Coordinator (Lou Dawes). A small team achieving huge things!
Timeline of Fat Farmers
2012
February - Fat Farmers Maitland launched
2015
Launched Fat Farmers groups in other towns around South Australia
2020
First part-time employee started
2022
June - first interstate group launched
2024
July - The Hospital Research Foundation Group became our Major Health Partner
July - featured in The Advertiser
July - reached 20 groups
July - first Victorian group launched in Lismore
2025
March - first Queensland group launched in St George
June - hit 30 groups
June - started collaborations with Preventive Health SA
August - recognised at the Bush Summit Awards in Ballarat
August - featured on Weekend Sunrise
September - appointment of Richard Sheppy as our first CEO
September - first Western Australia group launched in Bunbury
October - reached 40 groups
November - Active Farmers integrated into Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative
November - reached 80 groups collectively
December - first outing of the Health Hub at the Jamestown Christmas Pageant (SA)
Future Endeavours
Health Hub "Road Trip"
Reaching 150+ groups by December 2026
Our Board
Fat Farmers: Rural Health Initiative became an Incorporated Association in September 2021.
This means we now have our own Constitution and a Board to ensure good governance of the organisation.
Our Team
The Fat Farmers team, who based in Adelaide, is growing from strength to strength! Together, they ensure Fat Farmers runs smoothly ensure we're making our positive mark in rural communities.
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