Tom Hawkins featured in Can-Am’s video series

In April 2022, off-road vehicle specialist, Can-Am, released the first episode of its original online series, ‘Livin’ the Land’ featuring bucking bull contracting business, Dittmann’s Bucking Bulls. In the latest episode, released today, the star of the show is none other than Geelong Cats player, Tom Hawkins, who not only wears the number 26 jersey for the Cats, but also runs a cattle farm.

Can-Am’s ‘Livin’ the Land’ series is a collection of cinematic, short films that takes a never-before-seen look into what drives the next generation of farmers, all with a close connection to the land working from sunrise to sunset. The latest episode takes an in-depth look at Hawkins’ life on the farm and what makes his ‘Livin’ The Land’ journey so rewarding.

The footy star and third generation farmer has followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both farmers and league footballers themselves. Growing up on the family farm in Finley, NSW, has taught him hard work, perseverance and a sense of responsibility, he said.

“My family are generational farmers who have been in agriculture for 100 years. Farming is a big part of my identity,” he said.

“Before I do anything (such as my internal fencing), I always have a conversation with dad to get his thoughts. His experience & knowledge is a great tool for me to be able to lean on."

Hawkins now runs a Black Angus cattle operation and hopes to scale up his farm with the knowledge he has obtained over the years.

Can-Am Senior Brand Lead for APAC and Marketing, Sam Strutt, said the brand chose to work with Hawkins as they share the same values and beliefs.

“Tom knows that farming is serious business and requires quality, dependable tools like his Can-Am ‘Defender’ which is built to match Australian terrain and conditions,” he said.

“Tom’s childhood on his family’s farm is where he learned the values of hard work, perseverance and sense of responsibility. Those values have helped shape the legend that he is today and they’re also the values that Can-Am is built on. That’s why we’re proud to work with Tom.”

Much like his grandparents and parents did for him, Hawkins is keen to pass on the wealth of knowledge he has gathered from his family to his children.

“We are lucky to call this place home. We can live our idyllic life, connect back to what we had as kids and give that to our kids moving forward,” he said.

With his team sitting at the top of the AFL ladder and the premiership final just weeks away, Hawkins hopes to add yet another success story to his family’s long-standing legacy within the AFL.

To watch Can-Am’s latest ‘Livin’ the Land’ episode, visit canamtomhawkins.com.au.