FEATURE Mental health
n By Keith Hatch
Students highlight issue on tractor run
The lanes and villages of Dorset were filled with a colourful, and noisy, procession of tractors as agricultural students took part in the annual Kingston Maurward Tractor Run.
The springtime event was led by Level 3 students, many on apprenticeship programmes at Kingston Maurward College, and the route was packed with well-wishers cheering them on.
The annual tractor run aims to raise awareness of mental health issues in agriculture, and all money raised on the day was donated to the Yellow Wellies Mind Your Head campaign, part of the Farm Safety Foundation.
The foundation works closely with the College and runs awareness sessions for students to highlight not only mental health issues facing rural workers, but also practical farm safety training.
Event organiser Kate Barfoot teaches Level 3 Agriculture at Kingston Maurward and is a former student.
Kate said, “The atmosphere today has been fantastic, and the turnout was
brilliant. You never know how many people will turn up on the day.
“Today the weather is great, but that has meant many students who wanted to come aren’t able to because they need to work the land.”
The students were a mix of farmers and contractors, and though some will have tractors on the family farms, many others borrowed them from their employer for the day. The excitement in the field where they gathered was obvious.
Kate explained why the event raises money for the Mind Your Head campaign: “Mental health in agriculture is a massive topic for students, and the work the charity does to highlight the issue and work with young people in the countryside is really important.”
Sadly the issue is something that Kate understands all too well — when she was studying at the college a fellow student took their own life.
Kate added that the college is also very hot around health and safety for apprentices, carrying out safety
37 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2025
checks on all farm placements. With accident rates on farms so high, it is vital to instil a safety culture into students while at college.
Many female students were behind the wheel, something that Kate feels is very positive.
Kate said, “In classes at the moment I would say there is a 50/50 mix of male and female students on the agriculture courses.
“I think this is great, and what is noticeable is that more girls are getting involved in learning about farm machinery, something that in the past was mainly seen as male-dominated area of farming.”
With students and teachers like Kate, the future of farming looks positive.
FIND OUT MORE
See the Yellow Wellies site for mental health advice
www.yellowwellies.org/ mind-your-head/
Keith Hatch
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