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University of Liverpool student crowned Britain’s Fittest Farmer 2023 dedicates win to dad.
A Veterinary Science student and dairy farmer who was recently crowned Britain’s Fittest Farmers (BFF) says losing her dad to Covid motivated her to pursue her goals.
Heidi Wilson’s dad, Paul, died from Covid-19 after a six-week battle with the virus in 2021, a few weeks before she moved to Liverpool to embark on her Veterinary Science degree.
Heidi first entered BFF in 2021, and was excited to see what personal progress she had made since then with her training. She had set no expectations for this year’s competition, apart from a personal goal to connect with other farmers and enjoy every event, but at the finals on 17 September at Farm Fitness, in Great Dunmow, Essex she was crowned champion in the BFF Women under 40s category.
Reflecting on her victory, Heidi said: “My dad always told me that I would change the world as I have always been so driven and motivated. The last event was a trail run and when I crossed that line, I had no idea I’d won overall. On the podium, the tears were streaming down my face holding the trophy. I said to myself, ‘This one’s for you, dad’.”
Balancing her vet studies with work placements, Heidi says that fitness provides a welcome balance in her life, and has helped her to perform better, both academically and out on farm.
“I’d say it really helps in two ways – I’ve got a really strict workout schedule, but that doesn’t mean I do less work. I’ve learned to revise more efficiently, my grades have gone up since taking training more seriously, and I think even on placement, it gives me a lot of life outside of that work, so I don’t find the working day as long or as tiring on my feet.”
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. The competition aims to get all farmers thinking and talking about their health, physical and mental, to make sure they are in top condition to run their farm businesses.
This article first appeared in Farmers Weekly on 6 October. To find out more click here.