HARDI Australia stands with the Naked Farmer

(Feb 2021, Adelaide) - HARDI Australia announces a new three-year partnership with rural mental health movement The Naked Farmer.

Founded in 2017 by Western Victoria farmer Ben Brooksby, The Naked Farmer has grown into a global phenomenon, with over 180,000 social media followers worldwide. The organisation seeks to promote agriculture and mental health awareness by sharing photos of naked farmers with “strategically placed” props.

Based in Adelaide, HARDI Australia has a long history of supporting mental health and wellbeing in the rural communities it serves. This includes sponsorship of the HARDI DATTO entry in the annual Beyond Bitumen Rally for Beyond Blue, or through support of the Fat Farmers group based on the Yorke Peninsula, or co-production and distribution of the Growing Hope toolkit in conjunction with mental health service provider WellWays.  

“HARDI Australia is all about making farming better and our commitment to rural health is really an extension of that,” said HARDI Australia Marketing Manager Tatiana Delendik.

“Ben has taken a bold, innovative approach to a major problem in our rural communities and our business is so proud to stand with him”, acknowledged Ms Delendik.

As part of the partnership, starting from February 2021, The Naked Farmer will be posting monthly “Heart To HARDI” segments across their social media channels, featuring a farmer’s “naked farmer” photo and their mental health story. The relationship between HARDI Australia and The Naked Farmer movement will, however, be more than that.

“Our key aim is to help farmers, who often feel they face a mental health challenge in isolation, to appreciate that others have the same difficulties and they are not alone”, said Ben Brooksby, the founder of the movement.

By opening up these topics to conversation, in person or on social media, HARDI Australia and The Naked Farmer hope to help farmers to connect with potentially life-saving sympathy and support.

“We had been approached by other companies but it never felt quite right,” he said. “Many of us already love and trust the HARDI brand, and we believe HARDI Australia is more than just The Sprayer. We want The Naked Farmer Community to understand and appreciate how they support our community.”

The Naked Farmer conducts national tours focused on talking to farmers, learning about their struggles and sharing their stories. They also support Flying Doctor Service Rural Mental Health through a fundraising calendar each year.

For more information, go to The Naked Farmer