Hayden Fox may be the fourth generation to work his family’s farm, but he’s the first in his family to teach millions of others about agricultural life.
Fox has close to two million followers on the social media platform TikTok, where he makes comedic videos about his day-to-day life working on his farm — from an explanation on why a bag of seed corn might be worth more than your car to making light of his early wake-up time and practical farming clothes, all the while full of energy, laughter and a bit of sarcasm.
“If you just try to shove farming and education down people’s throats, I don’t think they really want it,” he said. “I love comedy and I just think that people connect with comedy.”
Fox said he’s been working his family’s farm just outside of Cayuga, Ont., “pretty much since the day I was born.”
Last month, the 25-year-old said he bought the farm from his grandfather.
Helping LGBT farmers feel seen
His videos get personal, too.
An important part of his life, Fox said, is his identity as a queer man, but he said coming to terms with his sexuality growing up in rural Ontario wasn’t easy.
“I just had a really hard time with it,” he said.
“I didn’t really want to showcase that on TikTok, but as I got more comfortable with it, I was like, ‘You know what? I really struggled with this when I was younger and I know there’s probably a lot of people out there that struggle with this.'”
He said he wants his videos to allow other LGBT people in the farming community feel seen and included.
Fox has used his platform to teach his almost two million followers about farming — and to help other LGBT people in the farming community feel included. (Submitted by Hayden Fox)
“Once I showed that side of me and I realized there were a lot of people out there like me… I felt it was really important to add it because I did realize there was a lot of people out there that felt really disconnected from the community,” he said.
His biggest fan
Fox is a man of many hats — he’s a farmer, a Haldimand County volunteer firefighter, a University of Guelph food and agriculture grad and, of course, a TikTok influencer.
But as Fox said TikTok doesn’t pay Canadian influencers for garnering a large following, like it does for users in the United States, his videos are just for fun and education.
“To me, TikTok is just a hobby,” he said.
Fox is a man of many hats. He’s a university grad, a fourth-generation cash crop farmer, a TikTok influencer and a volunteer firefighter, along with most of his family. He is pictured here, left, with his dad and his sister. (Submitted by Hayden Fox)
The biggest fan of his videos, Fox said, is his mother, Wendy Fox.
She told CBC Hamilton she’s been watching them since Fox began posting in 2020, but she originally didn’t know what the app was.
“I got an account just so I could watch. He’s the only one that I actually follow on there,” she said.
Wendy said her son has “always been dramatic” but he has really allowed his funny side show through his videos.
“He’s kind of been more comfortable with himself. We always knew he was like that, but I think with [TikTok] he realized, ‘Oh, other people find me funny too’,” she told CBC Hamilton.
“He’s had a lot of people that say that they’ve learned quite a bit about farming from him, even though he’s doing stuff in a jokingly way.”
The Morning Edition – K-W6:36What do farming and TikTok have in common? The answer: Hayden Fox
TikTok superstar Hayden Fox is a fourth generation cash crop farmer. He started making TikTok videos in 2020 as a way to educate people about farming life and agriculture. The University of Guelph grad has over two million followers. He explains why his farming videos are resonating with so many people.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
