Farmers’ Choir offered a lifeline to County Antrim dairy farmer Mervyn Kelso after bovine TB forced the loss of his entire herd, leaving fields empty and the milking yard silent.
Kelso, who had farmed all his life, described watching neighbors continue their routines as a painful reminder of what he had lost. At his sister’s urging, he joined the Farmers’ Choir, which he called a “great lifter” during a period of grief and uncertainty.
Four years on, he has sung for the King, met musical greats, and the choir is now shortlisted for a national honor, marking a turnaround he did not expect when the crisis began.
Kelso’s first group of cows was culled in November 2021, the same time a close family friend who had been connected to the County Antrim farm for three generations died. Another 120 cows were removed soon after, followed by 40 more two months later.
“The department decided to buy the herd out,” Kelso said. “So by March 2022 we had no stock, no milking stock or adult stock.” He and his wife, Ruth, who live near Portglenone, leaned on their faith for the strength to keep going.
Accustomed to singing in church, Kelso joined the Farmers’ Choir when it restarted in Ballymena that autumn. He said the experience has been rewarding and different, providing welcome relief from the pressures of day-to-day farming.
He added that farming can be isolating, especially as finding labor has become harder. Working alone can also be dangerous, and the strain can take a toll. Getting involved in a choir or other social activities outside agriculture, he said, is good for anyone facing the demands of farm life.
Farmers’ Choir builds community and resilience
Kelso’s story reflects how music and connection can support mental health for people in demanding, solitary jobs. For Hawaii’s farming and ranching communities, the message resonates: shared activities, whether a choir, hālau, or community hui, can offer critical support when work gets tough.
