North Waikato Young Farmers celebrated their fourth annual Bark Up event on Friday, 24 October, bringing the community together for an evening of connection and support at the Te Kauwhata Rugby Club.
The group runs the event to support the rural community and to promote speaking up when you need help. The Chatter caught up with chairperson Jamie McDowell to hear about the evening.
How did the event go, and did you reach your objective?
The event was a success and reached well beyond the Te Kauwhata community. We had members from Franklin Young Farmers and Hamilton City Young Farmers attend and participate. Our objective is to encourage those going through a tough time to speak up and to raise funds for our chosen charities — this year, Hato Hone St John Te Kauwhata and Little Labs.
Tell us about the main ideas behind showcasing these charities – why are they so important to you and others in the group?
St John provides essential healthcare for anyone who’s injured, regardless of their industry. They respond to callouts with a wide range of outcomes, and that can take a toll on anyone. Giving back shows our appreciation for what they do and hopefully encourages them to seek mental health support when they need it. Te Kauwhata St John has also been a strong supporter of North Waikato Young Farmers, recently donating first aid kits for us to distribute within the community.
Little Labs provides a free science education programme aimed at rural primary schools, encouraging learning and curiosity in young minds. This matters to us because it teaches biology, chemistry, and physics — all vital subjects in the agriculture industry.
The event is now in its fourth year. Do you see it continuing? How can people be involved and support you?
Yes, absolutely! I’d love to see this event thrive and reach even more rural communities. Getting the word out through rural school newsletters would help bring more people along — not just to raise funds for our chosen charities, but to strengthen the bonds between communities that can be harder to reach.
We’re always looking for supporters and sponsors for our club and events – whether it’s hands-on help with setup and organisation, funding to help feed everyone, or items for raffles and auctions. We’re open to all kinds of support and would love to hear what the community would like to see from us as a club.
