Championing fitness and mental wellbeing in agriculture
ENTER BRITAIN’S FITTEST FARMER
Britain’s Fittest Farmer
Now more than ever, it's important for farmers to take care of their mental health, and support others who may be struggling through these turbulent times.
Britain’s Fittest Farmer was launched by Farmers Weekly in 2018 as a fun way of sparking a vital discussion about the physical and mental health of the nation’s farmers, and those in the wider supply chain.
This competition creates ambassadors for the agricultural community who can demonstrate the power of exercise in keeping physically and mentally fit.
Applications for 2026 are now open, so get involved!
Head judge
William Arden
Lincolnshire arable farmer and owner of The Farmyard Gym William won the men’s under 40s category of Britain’s Fittest Farmer last year. He is a veteran of the competition, with 2024 marking his fifth year – and his first win.
For William, fitness serves not only as physical preparation for farming, but also as a vital outlet for mental resilience, particularly given the unpredictability of the job.
“Fitness is my grounding,” he says, explaining that it allows him to switch off from the stresses of farming and emerge from workouts feeling more capable of facing challenges.
William manages his own fitness facility, The Farmyard Gym, and sticks to a dedicated training regimen, exercising five to six times a week.
How it works
Round 1: Apply online
There are four categories in this competition:
- men under 40s
- women under 40s
- men over 40s
- women over 40s
We’re looking to crown four individuals who prove themselves to be admirable ambassadors of health and wellbeing in farming.
To apply, go to the apply now page. You will need to send us a photo or short video of yourself engaged in a fitness activity, tell us how you keep mentally and physically fit and what your connection to agriculture is. We will review all applications and then contact the contestants going through to the next round.
Round 2: the qualifying heats
After making sure you meet the judging criteria, you’ll be invited to show us what you’ve got by competing in a qualifier event in June at the following locations:
- Lincolnshire Show
- Cereals
This will be your shot at reaching the final stages of the competition – facing a series of tough physical challenges designed to test your speed, strength and stamina.
From this round, we’ll be selecting 10 men and 10 women under 40 and up to 10 men and 10 women over 40 to proceed to the final stages of the competition.
You will be issued a show ticket for yourself and a plus one at your chosen qualifier location.
Round 3: The interviews
A Farmers Weekly judge and representative from the competition’s charity partner the Farming Community Network (FCN) will assess the finalists’ mental health awareness.
Each competitor will be merited on their suitability for becoming an ambassador for mental health in the industry
Round 4: The final
Our finalists will face one last challenge – the ultimate physical assault course designed to test their speed, power and endurance.
Points from each round will be combined with scores from the interview round to see one man and one woman under 40 and one man and one woman over 40 emerge as Britain’s Fittest Farmers 2026.
Apply now
Think you’ve got what it takes? Britain’s Fittest Farmer is back, searching for the strongest, fastest, and toughest farmers in the country! This is your chance to put your fitness to the test, challenge yourself, and compete for the title.
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