Tools for the Top Paddock. Kane Brisco. 2022.

When Kane Briscoe was at his lowest ebb, he could barely even look at his stock. He stood in the middle of a paddock with water flowing over his boots, trying to comprehend how many days of rain he’d endured without a break. Three weeks later, the ground had turned to concrete, split by huge cracks. Consumed by a myriad of problems, the weather tipping him over the edge, Kane lost confidence in his own ability and didn’t know if he could financially survive. Every day he felt like a disaster and, even at the end of the way when he was at home with his family, his mind was still out on the farm, worrying about his animals.

Farmers have to make tough decisions on a daily basis while shouldering a mountain of pressure alone. Good physical health and strength might lead to better all- round resilience, but often farmers are so consumed with doing the right things for their animals that they forget about looking after themselves. What Kane Brisco came to realise is how important ‘farm fitness’ is to coping with the daily challenges and unpredictability of life on the land.