South Australian farmers willing to go nude for a great cause will soon have their chance with The Naked Farmer announcing a tour across the state late next month.
Wimmera, Vic, graingrower Ben Brooksby, who now lives at Warrawindi sheep stud at Penola, has put the call out to SA rural men and women willing to help raise awareness of mental health and who have "the guts" to be tastefully photographed naked going about their on-farm lives.
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When Mr Brooksby first posted a photo of himself on Instagram lying naked in a truck full of lentils in May 2017 he had no idea The Naked Farmer would grow into a social media movement with more than 110,000 Instagram followers.
But he says he knew a unique approach was needed to break down the stigma of mental health.
The thousands of photos posted since and openness of others to share their personal experiences have encouraged countless difficult conversations among family members and mates and made a big difference to many battling depression.
'It is hard talking about your own mental health but you feel a million times better when you do and you can inspire so many others to do the same.
- Ben Brooksby, The Naked Farmer founder
"It(The photos) is something that gets people's attention and gets people talking about mental health without even realising it ," he said.
"It is hard talking about your own mental health but you feel a million times better when you do and you can inspire so many others to do the same.
"We get those posts sent in on a daily basis - there is so much love in The Naked Farmer movement."
In 2019 Mr Brooksby visited Tas interviewing farmers and capturing images which will be included in a book to be released late this year.
The plan for a 2020 tour - prior to COVID-19 - had been to to team up with Jodie Morton from Green, Gold and Blues for a horseback ride in Qld and NSW, but this has had to be put on hold due to border restrictions.
Mr Brooksby said it made sense to switch to SA and hopes to get many places across the state, including Kangaroo Island.
"We are here and we are allowed to do it, it is something that we haven't done yet so it is a no brainer," he said.
"We want to hear from anyone that is willing to shine a light on mental health and be part of this amazing community- bring on the Dad bods."
Over the past three years The Naked Farmer movement has raised more than $100,000 through the generosity of rural Australia.
This includes the Baker family, Woonallee Simmentals, Furner, who donated a bull at their on-property sale earlier this year which made $8500.
Mr Brooksby says the photos taken on the upcoming SA tour will appear on social media and in The Naked Farmer 2021 calendar. The money raised from the sale of the annual calendars goes to the Royal Flying Doctor Service's rural mental health services.
- To express interest in being part of the SA tour send a message to The Naked Farmer's Facebook page or email gday@nakedfarmer.org