Farmer Resilience

Mental Health in the Pork Industry: Redefining Grit with Maddison Caldwell

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:56:42 GMT

In the stock show world, Maddison Caldwell was the blueprint of a firstborn overachiever: disciplined, organized and a perfectionist. But while she thrived in the black-and-white rules of life, the “gray areas” nearly cost her everything.

In college, she took a mandatory psychology class and realized she related to many of the topics they talked about. Caldwell sought help from her primary care physician, not knowing at the time that specialists existed for what she was feeling.

After months of increasing dosages, she reached a medical ceiling. When her doctor told her it was the maximum dose and ‘sent her on her way,’ she felt she had run out of options. Within five months, she attempted to end her life twice.

Private Pain to Public Hope

When she shared her personal battle in January 2022 , her story stopped being just hers. It became a shared common ground for others fighting silent battles.

“As soon as the article came out, it was like the floodgates opened,” she says. “All of a sudden, complete strangers – even people who weren’t involved with agriculture – of all ages from across the country reached out.”

Although it wasn’t easy to have the most painful moments of her life become table conversation, she doesn’t regret the decision to share it with others.

“This story came out right around the time I was starting my career,” Caldwell says. “I was reporting to an executive at a large company, and one of his coworkers on the executive team asked him, ‘Have you Googled her?’”

(Provided by Maddison Caldwell)

She will never forget when he asked her about it and the conversation that followed.

“He was quite a bit older than I am, and from a generation that didn’t talk about these things,” Caldwell adds. “It was a really uncomfortable and really hard conversation.”

But she believes those conversations are more important than ever.

“Doing things like that bring us one step closer,” Caldwell says. “I hope I never lose the drive to keep being uncomfortable in order to help people.”

Redefining Grit in Agriculture

Agriculture is making progress when it comes to talking about mental health and recognizing the importance of conversation.

“I don’t think we are great at sitting in that uncomfortable state,” she says. “We want to fix it and move on, or minimize it, or work harder and stay busy doing anything that allows us to avoid facing the reality of it.”

She believes it’s time to redefine “grit” in agriculture.

“In my opinion, grit means being honest with ourselves,” Caldwell explains. “I think it means coming to the realization that we need to reach out for help sometimes. It’s about the courage to be vulnerable.”

She also challenges the industry to stop equating grit with silence.

“You cannot pour from an empty cup,” she warns.

In an industry that prizes working until the job is done, Caldwell says the ultimate display of grit is the courage to admit when you’re running on empty.

Warning Signs

With one in five U.S. adults facing mental health conditions and one in five high school students considering suicide, Caldwell isn’t shy about offering advice now.

“One of the things I did was bury myself in work, in being productive, in not taking any time to just stop and ‘smell the roses,’” Caldwell says. “If you notice people withdrawing from activities that they would have once loved, pay attention. If they’re exhausted all the time, if they’re not talking as much, if they use the words ‘I’m fine’ all too often, or if they are pouring so much into other people at their own expense, those could be signs.”

Looking back, she admits it’s hard to recognize herself during those years. Her mindset is much different now. She challenges people to stop shying away from asking hard questions.

“People often think if you say the word suicide, it’s going to put that idea in someone’s mind,” Caldwell says. “Let me be clear that this thought was already in my head when I was struggling. I don’t know what would have happened if someone just blankly asked me if I was thinking about suicide, because that’s not something people talk about.”

Healing Is Not a Straight Line

Today, Caldwell lives by a quote she read early in her recovery process: “When we recover loudly, we keep others from dying quietly.”

“I will shout my story to the rooftops if it means that one person feels less alone in how they’re feeling,” she says.

Healing looks different for everyone, and everyone needs different tools, Caldwell explains. She compares it to going to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee and then realizing you don’t like it.

“Does it mean that you’re going to stop going to Starbucks altogether, or, even worse, stop drinking coffee altogether?” she says. “Absolutely not. Sometimes you just need to go to different places or add in a little sugar here and there based on personal preference. I feel like my healing journey is like that.”

Caldwell says the “gray areas” are still terrifying at times. But she’s learned that true bravery is figuring out how to thrive even when a clear plan isn’t visible. Healing hasn’t removed the stressors in her life, but it has increased her capacity to handle them.

The one thing that has changed in the past six years is her willingness to have uncomfortable conversations and ask hard questions. She is grateful for the family, friends and professionals that support her in doing this.

“Transparency looks different now,” she says. “I can text my mom to just say, ‘It’s not a good day today.’ That’s something I never would have done because I didn’t feel comfortable saying that.”

Stay Beyond the Crisis

Her message to farm families is simple: don’t just show up for the crisis; show up for the recovery.

“Stay to see them thrive,” Caldwell says. “Stay to hear people like my mom say that ‘the light has returned’ in their eyes.”

Maddison’s family members have been a key support to her in the healing journey.

(Provided by Maddison Caldwell)

On the sixth anniversary of being alive after her last suicide attempt, Caldwell lit a candle and blew it out surrounded by her inner circle.

“As I looked around at the simplest of things, I was so grateful,” she says. “I was flooded with all the beautiful moments I have had since that time that I would have missed out on.”

Discover more about Caldwell’s journey – the challenges that would have wrecked her before, the most unexpected people who helped her recover and the joy she finds in her career today – by watching “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or by listening to it anywhere podcasts are found.

No one has to struggle alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

The Grace of the Stillness: A Lesson in Healing

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:28 GMT

In the span of just two weeks, the rhythm of my life was violently disrupted, replaced by a forced stillness that I never saw coming. It began on the evening of February 27, when a black truck turned left directly into my vehicle’s path. The impact was high-velocity and terrifying, painting my mid-section with a map of deep purple contusions and bruising that stretched from hip to hip. But as I sat in the quiet aftermath of deployed airbags and twisted metal, my physical pain was eclipsed by a profound sense of luck. My husband and I walked away. We were alive. We were discharged to go home. The script of that night could have been written very differently, and we knew it.

However, survival was only the first chapter. Just a few days later, I moved from the trauma of the near-fatal accident into the sterile reality of a planned surgery — one that carried a daunting eight-week recovery timeline. Suddenly, the woman who is used to directing the flow of a busy household and a demanding career found herself anchored to a bed, restricted by a 10 lb. lifting limit and the heavy fog of pain medication and fatigue.

Then, as if to test the very limits of my resolve, the sky turned white. A spring blizzard swept across the farm, bringing with it the biting wind and heavy snow that demands every hand on deck. From my window, I watched the world turn cold while my home hummed with a different kind of energy. Because it was spring break, all of my children were home. And because of the elements that Mother Nature graced us with, they were outside, plowing snow, bedding calf huts and taking over the extra chores that define farm life in a storm.

The Weight of the “Mind Over Matter” Mantra

As I watched them, a heavy, suffocating sense of guilt filled the room. I wanted to be out there. I wanted to be of service, to be the one hauling the buckets or — at the very least — the one standing over a hot stove preparing a meal for the exhausted crew coming in from the cold. Growing up on a farm, often we are raised on a steady mantra “mind over matter.” Farm women are legendary for their toughness. We are the ones who push through the flu, the ones who work until the job is done, the ones who equate our value with our productivity.

But as I lay there, sore and exhausted, I realized my toughness was being called upon in a way I hadn’t practiced before. I had to learn the foreign concept of extending grace to myself.

Strength Through Grace

I had to understand rest isn’t a lapse in character. It is a required ingredient for a future of service. To truly lead my family and my community, I had to lead by example in the art of self-care. I had to embrace the season of stillness I was in, allowing my body and mind to knit themselves back together. I had to accept that for this brief moment in time, the most productive thing I could do was to kick my feet up and sleep.

It is so much easier said than done. It feels like a betrayal of our nature to let others wait on us. Yet there is a sacredness in allowing those you have spent your life serving to serve you in return. It allows them to grow, and it allows you to heal.

If you find yourself in a season where you are doing “less,” please listen to your body and your doctor. Do not mistake rest for weakness. Whether you are recovering from a literal collision or the metaphorical storms of life, remember the farm will stand, the chores will get done, the farm family will manage to find something to eat and the world will keep turning. Allow yourself the grace to be still. For once, let the help come to you. Because in the end, that is the only way we truly heal.

The Identity Trap: What You Do is Not Who You Are

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:56:52 GMT

I will never forget how helpless I felt on Jan. 24 when I watched my son stumble across the wrestling mat. He took two major blows to the head during a match – a sound I could hear from the top of the gym bleachers. As he struggled to orient himself, I felt like I was going to throw up.

In a matter of seconds, he was on his back convulsing with trainers at his side trying to take off his shoulder brace so he could breathe. Sweat poured off his body in a way no workout ever could have done.

I held my hand over my mouth and wailed, watching nearly 13 years of hard work, sacrifice and commitment get carried off the mat on a stretcher. I knew in my heart that this was not a “shake it off” moment as they raced him to the emergency room by ambulance.

By God’s grace, the X-ray of his neck was clear. He never lost consciousness. He answered his questions correctly. Minus the uncomfortable neck brace, within an hour, our son seemed a little drowsy, but normal. We were able to leave Loyola Hospital in Chicago later that day and made it home through the snow that night. With time and rest, he was expected to make a full recovery, but it just wasn’t enough time for his brain to heal to allow him to wrestle in his senior year state series starting a couple of days later.

As a parent, this was a pretty excruciating moment because for thousands of days, I watched this kid commit his whole heart to this sport – a three-time state qualifier who overcame a hip avulsion fracture suffered during his sophomore year during the state tournament, a car accident at the end of his junior season and a torn labrum in his shoulder just weeks after his senior season began. It seemed like all of that was enough. And yet the disappointment was not over.

If I can be honest, I’m angry. Not at anyone in particular, but I’m just angry at the way it played out for him. There is nothing worse than watching your kid hurt and not be able to fix it.

The following weekend of regionals was hard to sit through, though we absolutely wanted the best for his teammates. At church the next day, some friends we hadn’t seen in a while came up and talked to our son. I overheard him say, “Wrestling is something I do, it’s not who I am.”

Parallel Paths: From the Mat to the Ranch

Fast forward a few days to the Top Producer Summit where I listened to a powerful panel. Leaders of top companies in agriculture weighed in on a variety of thought-provoking topics, but one message stood out to me.

“All too often, we confuse what we do with who we are,” said Lamar Steiger with The 808 Ranch. “As farmers and ranchers, we are our job. It’s our identity. That was my problem as a young man.”

Steiger grew up on a dairy. High interest rates in the late 1970s made farming particularly challenging. When he was in his 20s, their family lost the dairy. After working so hard to make that operation work, Steiger took this as a deep personal failure.

“There was nothing I could do to save the dairy because outside forces were at hand. But it’s so hard for farmers and ranchers to separate that,” he said. “Looking back, I had depression for quite a while after that, but we didn’t talk about that then.”

When he was in his mid-30s, Steiger attempted suicide.

“I had to be removed totally from my working life and start completely over,” he shared. “I learned the hard way how to separate my identity from my role.”

Steiger said it wasn’t pretty, but he is grateful for how this time of his life changed him.

“When you come to the end of yourself, you look for something bigger and better. That’s worked out really good for me,” he said. “Being a rancher is cool to me, but it’s not who I am. I’m Lamar. I try my best and I fail. We have great successes and then we have some things that just don’t work out. But it’s not all my responsibility.”

There’s something so humbling about another person vulnerably sharing their story. We can learn so much from each other. All it takes is a willingness to share your story. Left unshared, our stories may only change us. But by sharing, we can help each other find our way through the very real burdens of life.

A Truth Worth Holding Onto

It’s easy to confuse your identity with what you do because it becomes such a big part of our lives. As another Shike kid closes one chapter and gets ready to start the next, I find myself confusing who I am with my role as a mom. I’m not sure what life looks like without Saturday wrestling tournaments and late nights posting photos of our wrestlers.

As I sat there at Top Producer Summit, I kept hearing my son’s voice in my head saying, “Wrestling is something I do, it’s not who I am.”

He’s only 17 and has a lot of life to live, but I’m grateful he recognizes this truth. I know there will be times when he will be tempted to measure his worth by his performance. But I believe when we get honest and share these stories, we can help one another avoid the mistake of confusing what we do with who we are.

Saying Goodbye to Dad: A Farmer’s Journey with Grief

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:24:01 GMT

Grief is hard. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a way of life, or even a dream, the pain of losing something we care about is an inevitable part of being human. However, that doesn’t make grief any easier to walk through.

On May 23, 2024, Nathan Isler lost his father, Bill, to a stroke. The man who was greater than life to him, was no longer by his side every day on their family pork and grain operation. The loss that everyone who loved him felt was undeniable.

“I don’t know how people deal with grief without faith. If you think death is just the end, it’s a hard thing to deal with,” Isler says. “For me, the toughest part is the loss of those moments where I wish he was there to talk to about things.”

In Isler’s mind, grief is more of a feeling than a definition. In the simplest of terms, he says it’s disappointment in life not going the way you want it to – not getting the answers you hoped for or not having the person you want to be there.

But grief, as painful as it feels, is also a process that can open the door to growth and resilience.

“It is impossible to live without experiencing pain at some point in our lives,” says Jorge Estrada, Global Coaching Alliance Latin America lead. “Life and pain go hand in hand. They’re part of the great dichotomies: black and white, day and night, life and death, love and pain.”

Pain isn’t an interruption to life, it’s a thread woven through it, Estrada adds. At the same time, grief isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. It’s evidence of our capacity to love deeply and to heal, even after profound loss.

Understanding Grief

“Grief hurts,” agrees Gina Forte, an expert in thanatology which is the study of death, loss and the processes that follow. “When we love someone or something, we become attached to it. The more we love, the more it hurts to lose.”

But that hurt has a purpose. Grief is an adaptive emotional process, a way to make sense of loss and find balance again, she adds. Knowing it’s a process helps people move forward.

“Perseverance is a necessity in life,” Isler says. “Life goes on. You can’t stop. You can’t lose your potential or your life. Putting my head down and getting work done – being productive – has helped me during this time.”

He says there is something healing about setting goals and pushing forward.

“Getting in your own head too much allows the grief to multiply,” Isler adds. “For me, being able to have wins and accomplish goals promotes healing.”

Forte says that’s the function of grief – to restore and heal.

“When we don’t allow ourselves to process it, grief can become unhealthy or even pathological,” she says.

From Shock to Acceptance

When loss hits, no one is ready to understand or accept it fully. The stages of grief all play a key role in the process. Forte outlined the seven stages of grief:

Grief isn’t a straight line, she says. Sometimes people circle back to the same stage again, but the visits grow shorter over time.

One day, one of Isler’s dad’s friends showed him a video of his dad swinging on a rope at a retreat not long before he passed away.

“I don’t know what, but something triggered inside me – to see that youthfulness and joy he always had,” Isler says. “It’s hard to predict what will trigger different parts of the grief process. I have found that the return to different stages gets quicker as you move on.”

On the Other Side of Loss

The resilience that emerges on the other side of loss makes us stronger people, Estrada says. In short, it’s not just surviving hardship, it’s being transformed by it.

Estrada defines resilience as the ability to navigate change, understand grief, learn, let go, and create a new reality—one that carries a better version of ourselves into the next stage of life.

“Everything you do in life changes who you are a little bit,” Isler says. “I’ve learned more about who my dad was to so many. I’ve learned not everyone has a role model like him. I hope I can live up to the example he set for my kids.”

Studies show one of the strongest predictors of resilience is having loving and supportive relationships that offer trust, encouragement and security through the grief process.

For Isler, living next door to his mom, who has been living with dementia for several years, has put him in a unique situation. Sharing stories about his dad with his mom has been especially healing.

“My mom has always been someone I could talk to easily,” Isler says. “I’ve used her as a map to put it all out there because she isn’t grieving the way the rest of us are. She knows dad isn’t around, but it doesn’t all connect for her like it does for us. When I talk about dad with her, it does nothing but bring joy to her.”

Get Off the Island

Everyone deals with grief at some point, Isler says. Maybe it’s grief from the loss of a loved one, but for farmers, grief could stem from a terrible financial situation on the farm or the loss of a business you’ve built your life around.

“For all the people who think they are alone, it’s just not the case,” he says. “We all deal with grief, and we all deal with it differently. A lot of times we put ourselves on an island – especially in our industry.”

Farmers – especially men – are some of the worst about talking about their feelings, Isler says.

“We are tough guys. We get the work done and go on,” he says. “But it helps to talk about it. Let people show up for you or go find someone to talk to if they don’t know what you are going through.”

When Isler’s sister told him that what helped her in the grief process was being around him, he was taken aback a little.

“She said I reminded her of dad and was a lot like him, that being around me made it easier not having dad around anymore,” he says. “To me, that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”

Don't Break, Build: A Farmer's Playbook for Taking Control of Your Mind

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:02:19 GMT

It was already shaping up to be one of those days.

An unexpected bill is due, and the money just isn’t there. The kids are fighting again. Understandably, your wife is over it, and now it’s your fault. One of your employees just called to say the new group of wean pigs is sick. It’s all a part of a life, but sometimes it just stacks up to be too much.

“In a world of unpredictability with so many factors at play on any given day, it’s easy to be mentally or emotionally hijacked by elements out of our control,” says Athena Diesch-Chham with Restorative Path Counseling and Wellbeing. “Stress and anxiety thrive in this environment. However, the long-term effects of that are real.”

Farming stress will never go away, so how can you get more grit or become more resilient to that stress?

One expert says it starts by paying attention to the present.

“Don’t think about what happened yesterday or worry about what is happening tomorrow,” says Cheri Burcham, with University of Illinois Extension. “Focus on what you are doing and feeling in the very moment.”

Diesch-Chham likes to think of it as “being where your feet are.”

“So often brains are hijacked by stress and launch us mentally to a different space either in the past or in the future,” Diesch-Chham adds. “Mindfulness is just asking for our whole selves to be here in this moment, wherever our feet are planted.”

Pay Attention

This concept of truly being “in the moment” not only reduces stress, but research shows it can also lower blood pressure, increase immunity and reduce anxiety and depression, Burcham says.

When you intentionally notice where you are, you can recognize potential challenges sooner, says Abigail Cudney with Michigan State University Extension . Instead of habitually reacting to stress with intense anger, emotional shutdown, negative thinking or overthinking, this intentional awareness helps rewire the brain through a process called neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to grow and adapt to new experiences.

Consider the attention you pay when walking through the barn. You use all your senses to make assessments and determine what’s going on all around you.

“Whether it’s walking the barn or enjoying the fall scenery, naming something you are currently experiencing for each of the five senses is another way to practice mindfulness,” Diesch-Chham says. “This doesn’t have to be complicated – the whole goal is to bring mind and body to the same place.”

5 Senses Technique

Just Breathe

The fight or flight response animals have when stress strikes is the same thing that happens in people. As a review, the vagus nerve, which runs from the base of the brain and branches out to the organs, serves as a conduit of chemicals/hormones that are activated automatically/reflexively by the sympathetic nervous system. This is an involuntary and adaptive process that increases respiration and blood flow to prepare the body for quick and protective action, such as fighting or fleeing. Once the perceived threat has passed or been managed successfully, the stress response also passes and respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate return to a normal steady state, according to the Yale School of Medicine .

Through deep breathing, the vagus nerve can be stimulated intentionally to help restore, mitigate and even prevent these physical and psychological reactions. Slow, even breaths that originate deep within the abdomen stimulate the vagus nerve in a way that signals safety and cues the body and mind to relax, restore, and release chronic and unhealthy patterns.

“Deep breathing can be practiced anywhere and in so many ways – so it is very accessible and easy for farmers to practice,” Burcham explains. “Practice in the field or even while operating machinery.”

Let Go of What You Can’t Control

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of “being where your feet are” is realizing you can’t control it all.

“Working towards recognizing what truly is within our individual control and then choosing to focus our energy on managing what we can control to improve our overall mental health and stress, helps us remain resilient through the pieces that are outside of our control,” Diesch-Chham says.

Adversity happens. Markets will crash. Animals will get sick. Disease will strike. Families will argue. But you can recover faster from those stresses by staying grounded in the moment, aligning your thoughts and emotions with reality.

Resources to Help Build Resilience:
North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center

Mindfulness: University of Illinois Extension

Building Resilience with Mindfulness

From Despair to Hope: Why a Farmer on the Brink of Suicide Chose to Keep Going

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:41:23 GMT

It’s starting to feel similar to the 1980s. Not only are farmers on the brink of financial collapse, but there’s another grim reality setting in: The number of farmers dying by suicide is on the rise, and it could be at a rate U.S. agriculture hasn’t seen since the 1980s.

Even though statistics on suicides among farmers aren’t reliable from the 1980s because many were deemed “accidents” during that time, some estimates point to more than 1,000 farmers dying by suicide during that crisis.

“Unfortunately, it just almost seems like it’s a pandemic situation. I mean, there’s a lot of it, and it’s sad,” says Brent Foreman, a farmer in Shelby County, Mo., who knows the impacts of farmer suicides all too well.

“From an agricultural perspective, there’s a lot of stress in this industry, especially now,” Foreman says. “And somebody that’s contemplating this. I would say, we as farmers, we like to try to fix things, and we’re pretty good at it, but you can’t fix everything. If you get to a point like that, please reach out to someone, a family member, a good friend. Just please try to get some help.”

Touched By Suicide Three Times

Foreman isn’t just a fellow farmer concerned about the number of farmer suicides today. He’s a life-long farmer who’s been impacted by farmers dying by suicide three times, and the first loss happened when he was just 12 years old.

“My grandfather was a wonderful man, the most important male figure in my life,” Foreman says. “It happened 54 years ago, and it leaves a heck of a hole in your heart still today.”

Sixteen years later, his younger brother died by suicide, another sudden and tragic loss where there were no signs something was wrong.

“And then just a little over two years ago, my brother-in-law, who was 68, took his life,” Foreman says. “I’m telling you, it’s a devastating thing for loved ones to have to go through. It is tough. It’s really tough.”

Foreman says with his brother-in-law, there were signs he was struggling. He tried to take his life one time, but didn’t succeed. That’s when the family tried to get him help, which he agreed to, even going in for treatment.

“We thought that things were getting better, but they weren’t,” Foreman says. “At the beginning, I consulted our preacher, and I said: ‘I need some prayer and I need some advice.’ And he said: ‘Well, I do want to tell you something. I want you to be able to be prepared if you fail. Can you handle that?’ And I said: ‘Well, what I can’t handle is if I don’t try. I have to try.’

Experiencing three suicides, all by loved ones he was extremely close to, has been devastating. Foreman says the emotions are still raw today.

“It’s tough to live with, going through that so many times,” he says. “When I was a youngster I always told myself, the hurt, that’s something I would never do to anyone else. I just made like a pact with myself that I would never do that, because I’ve seen and lived firsthand how it affects you. From a family’s perspective, the pain goes on and on; it doesn’t quit. My wife, from her perspective, I can just see it in her eyes almost daily, the devastation.”

‘When We Lose Hope, It’s a Dangerous Place to Be’

When a person loses hope, that’s when the situation turns bleak.

“Sadly, that is the end all for a lot of people,” Jolie Foreman, executive director at Shelby County Cares , says. “Hope is key. If you have hope, you can keep going. When you lose hope, it’s just a very dangerous place to be.”

Lafayette County, Mo., farmer Ethan Daehler has been there.

“It was actually 2019 was kind of my low point,” he says.

Just six years ago, this Missouri farmer hit rock bottom.

“I was pretty much just down in the dumps, ready to just give up on life,” he says. “Thank the Lord something happened that kind of changed my way of thinking.”

In his early 30s, Ethan Daehler knows what it’s like to be on the verge of suicide. In 2019, he hit a low point. But something saved him, and he hopes by sharing his story, he will reach other farmers in a similar state of mind, reminding them that life is worth living.

(Ethan Daehler, Missouri Farmer )

Battling ongoing pain from an accident and stress of work, as well as struggles with the dynamics of a family farm, it all compounded the issue and pushed Daehler to a breaking point.

“I had a full-time job at the time working for another farmer and trying to do my own small operation,” he says. “We had family issues, which happens to a lot of farmers. There is a lot that compounds into thoughts, it’s just not financial problems, and I think that’s what people need to understand.

Daehler is now proof that it’s worth finding a reason to live, and he is only sharing his story to possibly save someone who’s in a similar spot as he was in 2019.

“There’s more to life,” he says. “I’m in a tractor now, baling hay, this is my fourth cutting. This is what I kind of dreamed of. Find something you love doing.”

A Mission to Prevent Farmer Suicides

That pain is something that fueled his daughter-in-law’s work. Jolie Foreman is the executive director at Shelby County Cares , a nonprofit whose goal is to improve the quality of life for children, youth and adults.

“I knew that we were very resource poor,” Jolie says. “So when I heard that this opportunity was available, we jumped on it, and we’ve just grown from the bottom up. We are definitely grassroots. They had faith in us in what our vision was, and they invested in it.

Through a grant,Jolie’s initial focus wasn’t suicide, but as she started doing research, she discovered there was a desperate need to provide help.

“My family had been impacted by suicide, and that’s kind of why I had jumped on board in the beginning,” she says. “But once we sat down at the table and really started to dive into the names and being in a small town, we know all of those lives that have been lost to suicide up here, that the producer was the one that was struggling.”

Fall Typically Heightens the Stress and Struggles

Jolie says they are currently seeing an increase in the number of farmer suicides happening across the country. Some of that is due to the various stresses involved with farming, but she says the fall is typically when the number of suicides in agriculture rises even more.

“In the spring, there’s a lot of hope,” Jolie says. “You’re planting, you’re coming off of the year that may have been good, may have been bad, but there’s always hope in the spring. And come September, I think the stark reality starts to set in either the pricing and the yields.”

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month , and when it comes to agriculture the facts are startling. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The suicide rate among male farmers, ranchers and ag managers is 43.7 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the National Rural Health Association.

The mounting financial pressures unfolding across the agricultural economy are adding another layer to an industry that already faces one of the highest rates of suicide compared to any other profession.

“Suicide is one of those things that’s hard to put on a scale,” Jolie says. “I mean we know the lives we’ve lost. We unfortunately can’t see the lives that we’ve saved, but I do know from talking to the local ambulance district that the calls have definitely increased; 988 is a huge resource here, and those calls have gone up and increased exponentially. And just through conversations I know that that rural agricultural piece is pressing behind it.”

She says one of the most startling discoveries she’s made during her research and work is the desensitization to death among farmers. She says through various conversations, it’s a reality that’s sad but true.

It’s Not Just Financial Stress That Causes Strains on Farmers’ Mental Health

Jolie says it’s not just financial stress that causes these struggles. It’s also the fact farming comes with many stresses, and for the most part, many farmers are so isolated and might not have access to adequate healthcare.

AgriSafe says if you’re a farmer, rancher, or farmworker, you already know that your work can expose you to a variety of hazards. They believe that with proper education and access to knowledgeable health professionals, farmers can live a long, healthy, and productive life.

(The Total Farmer Health Model, AgriSafe)

According to AgriSafe’s Total Farmer Health , the financial factor is one that can compound mental health struggles, but there are other factors that lead to the risks of farmer suicides including:

Weather
Sleep
Cognition
Social
Diet
Hazards
Spirituality
Healthcare
Fitness

Signs to Watch

And for family and friends, there are signs to watch out for, including neglect of the farm or ranch or even an individual who makes a big financial moves.

“Financial moves are also huge, which is why we’ve talked to attorneys, and we also talked to the financial providers like different banks,” Jolie says. “Are they moving their money? Are they giving away prize possessions? Are they changing their wills? Are they creating a sudden will? We just want to give those resources the tools that they need just to be like, ’Are you okay?’

Daehler says his message for someone in a dark place is you’re not alone. That message is something the Foremans also wants farmers to know.

“I want them to know that we care. I want to know they feed and fuel the world, but if their bucket is empty, they can’t pour into others,” Jolie says. “It’s OK to not be OK, to talk about it, to reach out, to ask your neighbor, to not afraid if you do see something or change in behavior or more isolation. Don’t be afraid to have that conversation. And there are a lot of people that care.”

Suicide Prevent Hotlines

It’s important to remember no matter where you are, there is help. 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline .

And for farmers, there is a specific farmer crisis hotline you can call that is toll-free at 866.586.6746.

The American Farm Bureau also has a Farm State of Mind campaign which builds awareness to reduce stigma and provides access to information and resources that promote farmer and rancher mental health wellness. You can visit that list of resources here .

The Two Worst Words a Farm Kid Can Say

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:18:10 GMT

Growing up on a farm is a unique experience that shapes vocabulary, attitude and lifestyle in countless ways. When you grow up on a farm, certain phrases become ingrained in your vocabulary, like “feed the calves” or “fix the fence” or “mow the grass,” but one phrase, in particular, is notably absent: “I’m bored.” In fact, these two little words should never escape the lips of a farm kid. On a farm, “boredom” is akin to a curse word, a concept almost as foreign as a cow that milks itself.

If, by some rare chance, a farm kid proclaims boredom, rest assured the farmer will always have a response, usually in the form of work. From fixing fences to milking cows, the endless list of tasks ensures there’s always something to occupy one’s time. Growing up, the idea of being bored was so unfathomable that even as a mere whisper, it would trigger an avalanche of chores.

I remember telling my mother, I was bored, could I go to the mall. My father overheard and said that rocks needed picked from the cattle corral.

In a world where other children would spend summer days at the mall or at a pool or watching television, farm kids are busy hauling manure, feeding calves, mowing grass, vaccinating cows, baling hay, getting their prize show animals ready for the fair and other tasks under the summer sun. During my own childhood, these activities kept me so occupied the notion of boredom seemed laughable.

The sheer sense of community and responsibility that arises from sharing in the farm work creates a mindset where leisure activities, such as trips to the movies or the mall, are rare and treasured luxuries.

Farm life might not be Instagram-worthy at times, but it certainly prepares children for the real world, as they learn resilience and a strong work ethic from an early age. If your own farm kids have ever echoed this curse word, how did you respond? Maybe you directed them toward the nearest trough that required cleaning or farm equipment to be washed.

Farm life is as much about character-building as it is about growing crops or raising livestock. It teaches adaptability and instills a sense of fulfillment born from hard work. The next time “I’m bored” is uttered, take it as an invitation to instill these valuable lessons, ensuring future generations uphold the traditions that make farm life so unique.

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5 Options to Consider During Farmland Transitions

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Transitions are hard. It doesn’t matter what the transition involves, the nature of moving from one thing to the next is complicated. Farmland may be one of the toughest, says Steve Bohr of Farm Financial Strategies in Lisbon, Iowa.

“Farmers often believe that what differentiates him or her is their ability to own the land,” Bohr explains. “And by God, you’re not taking it away from them. A lot of times, land ownership doesn’t transfer until death, and I’m OK with that. But we’ve got to drill down and figure out how that land is going to transition from one generation to the next.”

Over the years, he’s discovered there are three fundamental areas of concern in an estate and farm transition plan that each family should independently address — cost of administration, creditor protection, and transition plans for land and operating assets.

He shares five options to consider for the transition of land assets.

1. Give the land to the farmer.
The first option is to get the land transitioned to those who are farming it or have an affinity to own it, Bohr says. Each generation cannot afford to take a step back in equity and expect to compete in today’s marketplace.

“The clear problem with that is, how are we fair to the ones who aren’t interested in farming? Every family is different,” he says.

If your family is expecting to farm the same (or more) acres with a land base that has been divided across siblings, each generation will be in a weaker position to complete. How many times will your family have to pay for the same land? Which generation will eventually lose it due to no fault of their own (other than choosing to carry on the legacy)?

2. Divide the land equally.
An undivided ownership in real estate can cause great anxiety for the owners of the land who want to farm it or who want to continue to own it, he explains. There is a greater chance of peace if you divide the land, but also a greater chance it gets away from the family.

“Most people believe this is the answer,” Bohr says. “I don’t believe that, because the problem with dividing the land is that it’s a recipe for the land to get away from us. Whether it’s divorce, bankruptcy or poor planning.”

At some point in time, the more people involved, and the more independence those people have, the land’s going to get away from you. If it doesn’t, then it has to be divided again at the next generation. By the time you divide a farm two generations, the grandkids don’t have enough to be able to farm.

“We are dividing ourselves right out of the plat book,” Bohr says.

3. Deed land into a family trust.
Leaving the land in trust after death may be a wise option for families who cannot afford to get the land to one heir and who do not want to divide their land. There are solid reasons to leave the land in trust for management, including if one or more children have marital, money or addiction issues or if one or more children are independently wealthy.

Oftentimes, leaving land in trust gives a false sense of security that may be deferring the problem to the future.

“When we leave it in trust, we’re asking for big problems. Whenever that land comes out of trust, it can be very inflexible,” Bohr says.

4. Create a family land entity.
A land entity like a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Family Limited Partnership (FLP) has become popular for a family where the first three options do not fit.

“I call this the boomerang plan because the rules in the operating agreement of the entity always bring the land back to the family,” he says.

Those entities will have rules, and within the entities, those rules will talk about lease options and purchase options at family pricing and terms, whatever that looks like. A vast majority of them are special use paid over a 30 -year contract so they can guarantee opportunity and affordability for family members.

5. Develop a hybrid plan.
There is not one plan that fits all families. That’s why a combination of multiple options sometimes works best for most families. A hybrid plan gives everybody an opportunity.

“Right now in succession planning, I think we have to give a huge amount of understanding to what will or won’t cash flow,” Bohr says. “What are the tax ramifications? What is the timing of the transition? And are we going to give an adequate opportunity to those who are going to be that next generation in our communities, paying taxes, going to churches, going to schools?”

Your Next Read: How an Iowa Family is Passing on the Farm from One Generation to the Next

Questions to Ask Yourself When it Comes to Evaluating Mental Well-Being

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:44:22 GMT

Avoiding self-judgment, recognizing individual differences, focusing on personal needs and being proactive about mental health management are important for the agriculture industry to continue making progress in addressing well being and health.

Ted Matthews, director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health , has been helping farmers and farm families for more than 30 years. As a recent guest on “AgriTalk,” Matthews shared that when it comes to mental health people need to realize everyone is different, their needs are different and how they take care of their mental health will look different. The importance is understanding what that looks like for each individual.

“Because we are all different, we have to look at how we handle things personally, and not what we should do based on what other people do,” Matthews says. “We need to focus on what our mind needs, and then, as a family member, what are the family members’ needs, not what they should be. I think that’s a huge part of understanding mental health.”

Matthews says a positive step is that people are starting to understand that mental health is a huge part of physical health too.

“People need to [realize] that how you take care of yourself is by being nice to yourself,” he says. “Don’t beat yourself up for all the things you do wrong. Make sure that, if you’re going to keep score, you also score the things that you do right and the positive things you do and are.”

Based on Matthews’ advice, here are some self-evaluating questions farmers and ranchers could ask:

Self-Awareness

Am I being too judgmental toward myself?
What do I need to feel better?
Am I comparing myself unfairly to others?

Stress Management

How am I handling stress?
Are my stress levels impacting my physical health?
What specific strategies help me manage my mental well-being?

Personal Needs

What are my unique mental health needs?
How do I take care of myself differently from others?
Am I acknowledging both my challenges and my strengths?

Emotional Check-In

Am I giving myself credit for what I do right?
How am I processing difficult emotions?
Am I being kind to myself?

Support and Communication

Do I have people I can talk to about my mental health?
Am I comfortable discussing my feelings?
Would talking to a professional help me?

Check out the rest of the conversation where Matthews shares about parenting adolescents during this time of growth and development, and what people can do to navigate social media that helps protect their mental health.

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8 Things Farmers Can Do Now to Improve Heart Health

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:01:22 GMT

For farmers, managing high levels of stress is part of the job. From weather and market fluctuations to equipment malfunctions and animal health challenges, balancing it all can be tough.

A recent review published in the scientific journal Cureus collected data from 12 studies that looked at the relationship between cardiovascular disease and farmers. The researchers found that male farmers aged 45 and up have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their non-farming peers.

Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, says women in rural areas are also at an increased risk for heart disease. In addition, living in rural communities often results in decreased access to health care, “or (farmers) do not see their doctor on a regular basis,” Larson adds in a K-State release .

According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 44% of women in the U.S. are living with some sort of heart disease -- for many of the same reasons that men suffer from heart disease.

“Blood pressure tends to rise in women earlier than men,” Larson says. “Early signs of hypertension for women include fatigue, sleeping issues, bloating, headaches and blurred vision or dizziness. Don’t write these symptoms off; talk to your doctor before you have a problem.”

She encourages men and women to check their blood pressure on a regular basis; if you can’t get by the doctor’s office regularly, take advantage of blood pressure machines often available at a local pharmacy or other location.

Other conditions that affect heart health include high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, poor diet, obesity, limited cardiovascular activity and hearing loss.

“People, in general, may also ignore or downplay their susceptibility to heart disease and put off necessary actions to improve their wellness,” Larson says. “Poor heart health can lead to heart attack or stroke.”

Larson offers eight things farmers can do now to improve heart health:

• Make healthy choices, such as eating a healthy diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight.

• Make small changes. Set one goal per week, rather many changes at once.

• Reduce stress by focusing on what you can control.

• Find a favorite stress-reducing activity and do it regularly.

• Start a regular walking routine. Listen to music or a podcast.

• Read books.

• Spend time with family or friends.

• Take up an activity that gets your heart rate up, and gradually build to higher rates of activity.

Your Next Read: Passing on Values (and the Business) from One Generation to the Next

The Ultimate Gift: Dairy Farmer Becomes Lifesaving Hero by Donating Both His Liver and Kidney

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:58:22 GMT

When one thinks of a dairy farmer, the image often conjured is that of a hardworking individual, dedicated to the care of their cattle and land. Brian Forrest, who leads with a kind-hearted and giving spirit at his family farm, Maple Ridge Dairy near Stratford, Wisconsin, epitomizes this image and so much more.

Forrest works tirelessly alongside his wife, Elaine, and their five children, tending to roughly 2,000 cows and farming 4,000 acres. Although farming is undeniably a demanding job, Forrest thrives on the mixture of hard work and familial teamwork it entails.

Leadership Beyond Farming
Away from the hustle and bustle of farming, Forrest dedicates his time in boardrooms and volunteering on various committees and organizations. His contributions as a leader have not gone unnoticed as he was awarded the Dean Strauss Leadership Award at the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Annual Meeting earlier this year.

“Ask anyone who knows Brian and they’ll tell you he’d give you the shirt off his back without blinking, as his track record clearly shows,” Shelly Mayer, Executive Director of PDP, shares. “I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with Brian for several years and I can say firsthand that he is one of the most thoughtful, compassionate people one could ever hope to work with.”

Maple Ridge has earned recognition on state and national levels, including Focus on Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award and platinum-level recognition in 2020 from the National Mastitis Council for the dairy’s consistently low Somatic Cell Count. Forrest was also named a 2021 Wisconsin Agriculturist Master Agriculturist. Forrest serves as Board Chair of Dairy’s Foundation and also served on the PDP board of directors for six years, acting as treasurer for three years. He’s an FFA alumnus and regularly supports the FFA.

A Selfless Donor
Forrest’s generosity extends beyond his time and expertise. In July 2019, he served as a living liver donor for his cousin Richard Gillette, who was battling end-stage liver disease.

“Richard is one of five brothers who I had always looked up to when I was a kid,” Forrest fondly recalls. “When they were young, all five of them came up from Illinois during the summer to help out on my dad’s farm in Stratford.”

Two of the five brothers died in their 50s - and Forrest didn’t want to see a third Gillette brother die before his time. And, as sick as Richard was in the spring of 2019, he was unlikely to receive a new liver from a deceased donor in time to save his life. Too many patients were ahead of him on the transplant list - and most of them were even sicker. Forrest offered to see if he could be a match.

“I thought maybe I could be a donor. I’m older, but I have O-negative blood.” After discussing it with his wife and giving it careful thought, he decided to go through with the donation.

A football fan at heart, Forrest knows that when it’s game day, rivalries don’t matter. Or least this was the case for the fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“He’s a Bears fan. I’m a Packer fan. But we were united the morning that we both met with our incredible surgeons,” Forrest remembers back to the day of live transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Hospital. We joked together right before the surgery that after he gets part of my liver, he very well may come out a Packers fan! He beamingly shares that his cousin recovered well. “It was a tough road for a while, but it was all worthwhile.”

Four years later, Forrest donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient, demonstrating his willingness to help those in need yet again.

The kidney he donated went to a person in Virginia. The surgeon showed Forrest a picture of his kidney functioning perfectly inside the recipient the evening after his surgery.

“It was pink inside the recipient and doing its job,” Forrest shared emotionally. “It is all so remarkable.”

Both surgeries required others to pick up the ‘slack’ from Forrest back at the dairy. He proudly shares that he is lucky to have such a great village that could help out while he took 6-8 weeks to fully recover from both surgeries.

“I would do this again in a heartbeat,” he shares. “There is no price tag for giving someone life and the whole experience brought my family closer together.”

A Farmer’s Faith
Forrest says the feeling of helping someone else is hard to describe but incredibly fulfilling.

“I know God is driving the way,” he says. “I’m not sure what direction we are heading, but I know he is in the driver’s seat and I’m in the backseat.”

When it comes to farming, Forrest—like most farmers—believes in a better tomorrow. Before his surgeries, Forrest had to undergo a mental health evaluation, ensuring he was prepared for all eventualities, even the possibility of the surgery not resulting in success.

“I go back to the highs and lows of farming. With milk prices and Mother Nature, you must be okay with not being in control,” he says.

Forrest’s mindset of focusing on what can go right instead of what could go wrong is just his natural way of thinking. This positive attitude has helped foster a healthy and positive culture at Maple Ridge Dairy, where 34 full-time employees work in harmony.

“Our mission and values are communicated, and we all work towards the same goal,” he shares.

In an industry full of challenges and unpredictability, this Wisconsin dairy farmer stands out not just for his farming practices but for his exemplary character and unwavering optimism. Whether on the farm, in the operating room, or during acts of heroism, Forrest truly embodies a spirit of selflessness and resilience.

“I try to make more deposits than withdrawals,” he says. “There are good days and bad days, but we really need to focus on the good. My hopes are that others who hear my story also consider organ donation. UW Madison is an incredible resource and I’d be happy to talk to anyone whose heart has tugged on them regarding organ donation. I have no regrets.”

Finding Peace: Managing Mental Health During the Holiday Season

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:20:08 GMT

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. For many, however, it is also a period marked by increased stress and mental health challenges. The reality is that the rites and rituals of the season sometimes come with pressures that can be difficult to manage.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults’ experiences mental health struggles. This statistic is a stark reminder that these challenges are pervasive, impacting individuals of all backgrounds and life circumstances. What’s more revealing is that three out of four people report a worsening of their mental health during the holiday season.

Common Stressors and Their Impact
There are several factors that contribute to this heightened stress. Financial pressures are a significant concern, as individuals grapple with the expectation of gift-giving, hosting, and traveling. Coupled with these financial worries is the potential conflict with family members, which can strain relationships rather than bring people closer.

The loss of loved ones also becomes more pronounced during the holidays, as memories of past celebrations may bring feelings of longing rather than comfort. Moreover, the busy schedules that come with holiday preparations can leave little room for self-care or relaxation, further exacerbating feelings of stress and anxiety.

Strategies for Managing Holiday Stress
The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers these options if you notice your mental health worsening during the holidays.

Practice self-care. What activities help you feel refreshed or relaxed? Taking a walk around your property, watching a favorite movie, or driving through a Christmas light display in your community are all simple activities that can bring happiness.

Avoid negative coping strategies. It is common for people to enjoy alcoholic beverages, but excessive drinking to change your mood can harm your physical and mental health.

Set healthy boundaries. It is okay to say “no” or “not right now.” If your schedule is too busy, consider limiting the number of invitations you accept. If family gatherings are a little contentious, plan to stay for only an hour or two.

Follow your routine. Enjoy holiday treats and remember your veggies and protein. Settle in for a fun movie night and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Proper rest and nutrition help your mental health tremendously!

Acknowledge your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or family member and tell them how you feel. Sometimes, just saying words out loud can help remove a burden from our minds. Your loved ones may also be able to provide additional support.

Help is Available:

• 988 – call or text this number 24/7 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline. A trained counselor will listen to you, support you, and share resources in your area.

• 741741 – text the Crisis Lifeline 24/7 to connect with a trained counselor.

• 911 – if you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a medical emergency, call emergency services immediately.

Understanding the factors that contribute to the decline in mental health during the holidays is the first step toward managing them effectively. By recognizing and addressing the triggers, you can regain a sense of peace and joy during what is meant to be a festive time. Remember, taking care of your mental health should always be a priority, holiday season or not.

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This Thanksgiving Be Grateful for The Strength of Our Mothers

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:55:14 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the figures who have profoundly shaped our lives. This year, I find myself thinking about a striking statement from the legendary Coach Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke University and USA Basketball coach. He once advised, “Be as tough as your mothers.” This powerful message resonates deeply, especially with those of us who grew up as farm kids, where our mothers proved to be the unsung heroes of our upbringing.

The Unwavering Spirit of Farm Mothers
Mothers, if they are anything like mine, have faced the demanding realities of farm life with unyielding strength. These are women who fed calves in the sweltering heat of summer, irrigated pastures with children on their hips, and resolved marital differences amidst sorting cows. They managed household finances creatively, making ends meet even when the milk check was sparse, and they ensured that a family of eight was nourished from garden and freezer bounty.

My mother, in particular, embodies this strength. The oldest daughter of a U.S. Admiral, she once lived a life of luxury, familiar with Italian leather gloves, silk blouses, and fur coats. Yet, she embraced a new calling when she married my father, a devoted Oregon dairy farmer, and exchanged her glamorous wardrobe for rubber boots and ragged jeans. Despite this dramatic transformation, she never complained.

My late mother, Michelle getting ready to attend a formal event.

(Karen Bohnert)

Homemaker and More
After coming home from school to head to the barn to do farm chores, my sisters and I would race inside to a home-cooked meal prepared from scratch. Growing up with servants in a high-class setting, my mother learned to cook only after marrying my father, who humorously recalled losing 30 pounds in their first year of marriage. Yet she would remind him that he was doing ‘just fine now.’

Even when burdened by physical exhaustion or illness, my mom remained unwavering. She still managed to assist us with homework, ensuring that we not only comprehended the assignment but excelled at it, even if it meant staying up past midnight to solve complex algebra problems. She did this while nursing a sick newborn calf in the mudroom and baking pies for a 4-H banquet, lending yet another testament to a mother’s multitasking ability. Her ingenuity was a product of from being self-taught, reading the Merck Manual, learning from our veterinarian and her years of working in a hospital. Mom seemed to be able to do anything and everything.

My late mother feeding a flock of sheep in her Italian leather gloves and fur coat.

(Karen Bohnert)

Resilience in Adversity
My mother’s resilience manifested most profoundly when our family faced life’s harshest trials. When a house fire rendered us homeless overnight, she chose gratitude for the neighbors who welcomed us in. When one of her daughters nearly lost her leg in a farming accident, mom didn’t let her praying legs grow lazy, as she was grateful for medical advancements and her daughter’s recovery.

Values of Perseverance and Positivity
Among her most enduring gifts were the values she imparted—values characterized by a strong work ethic, kindness, gratitude and perspective. My mom never permitted self-pity to take root, a trait she exemplified in her own life. She instilled in us a perspective that transformed adversity into opportunity.

My three kids.

(Bohnert Farms)

Reflecting on the qualities I hope to impart to my own children, I wholeheartedly echo Coach K’s sentiment. I hope for my children to grow into individuals possessing the resilience and strength of their late grandmother. Her enduring legacy is one of tenacity, compassion and unwavering positivity—traits that are as essential on the farm as they are in life. This Thanksgiving, as you gather around the table, think of those that fill your heart with love, including your mother.

How Feeding Calves Helped This 33 Year Old Farm Mom Recover From a Devastating Brain Tumor

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:53:48 GMT

If you’re trying to imagine a California dairy farm family, the Ron and Sherri Prins family could easily paint that picture for you. Holsteins and Jerseys, a handful of employees, four children, one spouse that grew up on the farm and one that married into it.

Fifteen years into growing a farm and a family together in the Central Valley of California, everything changed for Ron, Sherri and their family. Sherri was 33, and the kids were six, eight, 10 and 12. Sherri had been dealing with migraines, and she recalls the evening in May of 2000, when Ron took her to the emergency room.

“Soon after our emergency room visit, we had a diagnosis of a brain tumor,” she says. “Life changed for all of us. We knew God had a plan for our lives and would take care of us, but we still had so many things that lay ahead of us.”

Doctor visits, MRIs, phone calls and trips to a major city were only part of what was to come. The kids were all involved in school, church and sports activities, and there were 600 cows to be milked.

“We have an amazing family and church family that helped us with our children, meals and driving, and so many others that offered their help on the dairy farm,” Sherri says. “Ron’s dad took some of the workload, as well as other members of our work force.”

Sherri had brain surgery on her 34th birthday, October 3, 2000. The surgery was successful, and coming home after a week, Ron was juggling a lot. “I don’t know if I could have done it all on my own. We were so fortunate to have most of our family close by, and a lot of friends who helped out,” Ron says.

The surgery was just the beginning of a long road to recovery for Sherri and continued adjusting for the rest of the family. Sherri remembers how the kids each handled the whole thing in different ways, and was grateful that their pastor was there to help them process things.

“There was a lot of juggling schedules with everything the kids were involved in,” Ron says. “And their roles increased on the farm as they got older. There was always something for them to do after school and on weekends if they weren’t busy with something else.”

But it ended up being a specific role on the farm that made a world of difference in Sherri’s recovery. The tumor had been in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for short term memory. Ron pieced together the need for Sherri to exercise that part of her brain with an important, daily, repetitive task on the farm: feeding calves.

One year after her surgery, Sherri stepped into that role, with the kids helping after school and on the weekends. “It became a type of occupational therapy,” she says. “Working on remembering cow and calf numbers and working through calf issues translated into redeveloping the ability to manage a schedule for a family. Working back into being able to multitask was a long process, but I was pushed along by the calf feeding routine. Along the way, I learned how much I loved calf care and how important it was to helping me recover.”

Another 20 years later, Sherri is now retired from calf feeding and has redeveloped her short-term memory to the point that her farm job is to manage the bookwork. Throughout the whole process, Ron and Sherri made a point to put their trust in God’s guidance and will never take for granted the type of perspective their kids gained at such young ages.

“Life in general is full of things that are out of our control,” Sherri says. “We learned at another level that our lives as farmers, parents are all in the hands of God. We had to trust God for what was ahead, and that wasn’t always easy, but we felt his protection and direction all through the process. Our children also saw and experienced the hard things and gained a great life perspective of what is really important.”

While the hard times have the potential to cast a cloud on the family’s story, Ron and Sherri are quick to point out the good times and the blessings they’ve experienced since Sherri’s diagnosis.

“We have been able to grow our dairy (now 1,100 cows), and add acres to the farm. Which is great, but it’s also added more work for everyone. We doubled our employees, cows, bookwork and everything,” Sherri says.

Ron adds, “I think it taught us that when life throws tough times at you, you learn to push through and work it out, and in the end it always seems to work out. Like any business, it takes a team effort to be successful, and we had that.”

Sherri describes it as chaotic and wonderful at the same time. “When 20 years ago we didn’t know what the future held for us, we can look at where we are now and know that God allowed us to have so much more than we could have ever imagined.”

For more human interest stories, read:

How Important is U.S. Ag and Food to the Economy?

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 01:31:10 GMT

As the saying goes, “numbers don’t lie,” and this rings especially true in the 2023 Feeding the Economy report, showing the economic importance of U.S. food and agriculture to communities throughout the nation.

Sponsored by 25 food and agriculture groups across all areas of the food supply chain, the report illustrates the food and agricultural impact on local and nationwide economic activity, underscoring the sector’s resilience and reliability amid a number of global and domestic disruptions.

“Feeding the Economy demonstrates how agriculture is connected to each stage of the supply chain, every item in the grocery store and relied upon by multiple other indispensable industries. The report provides insightful data and research on how the food and agriculture industry consistently generates a positive trade balance as well as millions of jobs while boosting economic vitality in rural and urban areas,” says Mike Seyfert, president and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association.

Economic Output

Showing an increased economic output in all 50 states compared to the 2022 report, the industries contributed to over $8.6 trillion, nearly 20%, of the country’s economic activity. In addition, the industries accounted for over $202 trillion in export value.

Reflecting a rebound in national economic activity, the largest total output gains were from Hawaii (31%), North Dakota (26%), New York (23%), Nevada (22%) and Florida (21%), according to the report.

Agriculture and food businesses also contribute over $947 trillion to federal and state taxes, including $565.3 trillion and $382.5 trillion, respectively.

Jobs and Wages

Despite the economic challenges and disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2023, a total of 22,924,189 million jobs are tied directly to the food and agriculture sector, claiming $927.4 billion in wages. This contributes to a total of over 46.2 million jobs and $2.6 trillion in wages supported across the whole supply chain, increasing nearly 2% since 2019.

Productivity

“The strength and growth highlighted in this year’s report reinforce that agriculture is evolving and innovating to meet the demands of the 21st century,” the report says.

USDA notes that between 1948 and 2019, land use for agriculture decreased by 28% while land productivity grew nearly four times and labor productivity grew more than 10 times, the report adds, with agriculture’s total factor productivity growth rate among the highest of U.S. sectors.

While producers raise crops, produce and livestock on two of every five acres of U.S. soil, millions of other U.S. workers fulfill jobs in over 200,000 food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities to strengthen the food supply chain across the world. Additionally, approximately 200,000 retail food stores and over 1 million restaurant locations provide food for communities from coast to coast.

The sheer number of jobs and total of wages, taxes and export values highlight the vitality of the industry to our nation. However, for many Americans, both rural and urban, agriculture and food are more than simply a paycheck.

“American agriculture is really the foundation of our lives and our economy. This study reveals the numbers, and maybe some of the spirit, of this one indispensable sector,” says Roger Cryan, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The full report can be found on the Feeding the Economy website .

It’s Okay to Celebrate Your Wins

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:40:56 GMT

When my kids were younger and they’d come off the bus, my first question would always be, “Tell me three positives about your day.” Their responses varied from “We had pizza for lunch,” to “I got to sit by so-and-so on the bus” to “We got to watch a movie in class.” I wasn’t concerned about the specifics of these wins; my goal was to train their minds to see the good in every day. If I had asked them what went wrong, they’d probably have overwhelmed me with an endless list of grievances.

The same principle applies to adults, especially those in high-stress professions like farming. It’s so easy to focus on the negatives: a busted gate, a forgotten task, or poor time management. The list seems endless. However, when we ask ourselves what went right, it becomes challenging to pinpoint those positive moments unless we make a conscious effort to celebrate them.

Finding Joy in the Everyday
I’m not just talking about significant, life-changing wins either; those are easier to acknowledge. Yet, in farming and many other fields, those big wins don’t happen every day, every week, or even every month. It’s crucial to make a big deal out of every win, no matter the size. Throw a pizza party, provide tokens of appreciation, like gift cards, or simply brag a bit. These celebrations help remind us why we do what we do, especially when it feels like everything is going against us.

Recently, at our farm we experienced a significant win when we started chopping corn. Our insurance appraiser came to assess the crop, and while we suspected it was good, we were blown away when he announced our average—275 bushels per acre. I cried right then and there because it was a monumental win for us.

I follow up by sharing, we’ve had tough years where river-bottom corn was flooded out and we had to rely on insurance money. Some years, rain didn’t come, and yields barely reached half of what we got this year. Many years fell somewhere in between.

The Importance of Celebration
So, we celebrated this extraordinary crop under the hot sun with cold beverages and laughter as we reminisced about the past. We recalled the times when the kids were learning how to drive tractors and listened to the old-timers’ stories, which were probably more fiction than fact, but still enjoyable, nonetheless. We stayed up late and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

It sounds simple, but often we are conditioned to focus on what went wrong rather than what went right.

Changing the Perspective
The week after our celebration, I started asking my husband about his wins every day. Though he chuckled, knowing what I was trying to do, he joined in. Once you train your mind to see the good, it’s like switching from black and white to technicolor. Suddenly, you find yourself smiling more while feeding calves as you see your future standing right in front of you. A successful herd health check becomes a reason to tell all your employees. Moving cows from the barn to the parlor and spotting an excellent 2-year-old cow becomes a photo opportunity to share with the crew. The lights come on for all the right reasons, and you start building a positive culture that makes owning and working on your farm incredibly fulfilling.

So, I highly suggest giving it a try—start celebrating your wins, big or small. What have been some of your wins this year?

From Football Cleats to Dirty Work Boots: How Authentic Teamwork is Made in the Fields

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:56:07 GMT

It is that time of year when it seems like there are not enough hours in the day. Mostly because two-thirds of it is spent chopping corn. The next day is much of the same and so is the next and then the next, until the job gets done.

Last week, I watched outside my farmhouse window, my husband lowering the chopper’s head down to the ground. Then slowly, the corn began disappearing and the chopper-box wagons were being filled. One after another, five wagons were filled every hour. Like clockwork.

Challenges Ahead
That is until the clock breaks. Two things that cost time and money are breakdowns and Mother Nature. This year, Mother Nature just didn’t want to cooperate for us. With the heat index topping 107 degrees, the forecast showed a slight chance of a pop-up shower. With the corn turning quick, we decided to keep going.

Then, during the night, that slight chance of rain turned into a 100% chance, and the pop-up shower equated to nearly an inch of rain. Others in our area received double the amount, so I guess we considered ourselves lucky.

But, truthfully, we just felt sick to our stomachs, knowing how many endless hours of work unfolded only to get rain on it. But, what else can you do besides move forward?

Shifting Focus
The next day, we turned our attention back to the cows and the dairy, as the fields needed to dry out. The following day, I heard diesel engines roar up, as seven tractors started their engines for a full day of work. On the pile, the blade began smoothing over freshly dumped corn silage again, while additional tractors went back and forth over the pile, packing it down for endless hours—too many to count. The other tractors raced down the roads, hauling chopper boxes and filling freshly chopped corn silage.

With a lot of windshield time, my husband, who is the master mind behind our chopping crew and the operator of our chopper, thinks about when the pile will be ready to cover. Any of you that have had the luxury of joining in this job, understand that it certainly isn’t for the faint of hearts. This job is a full cardio workout.

Thankfully this year, we were once again able to count on our local high school varsity football team, who traded in their cleats for work shoes and tossed tires and pulled plastic to tightly seal up 2024’s crop.

Teamwork is what spells dream work. This couldn’t be truer than what it takes to chop 4,000 tons of corn over the span of a few days. I encourage you to extend an invite to your local football, FFA Chapter or whomever to offer a helping hand. Don’t run on empty this harvest season—recruit some young blood to build up your team to get across the finish line.

The Bittersweet Goodbye: Dropping My Daughter Off at College

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 21:32:10 GMT

With glossy eyes, I’m still treasuring the long-lasting hug I gave my 18-year-old daughter, Cassie, after we dropped her off at Iowa State University in Ames earlier this week. I know I must have blinked because it feels like I was crying not that long ago when our dear hearted daughter was heading off to kindergarten. My sweet girl was determined and more than prepared then as she is now. I still can recall Cassie trying to reassure me that I’d be okay when she stepped on the school bus for the very first time. “You still have Jacob,” referring to her baby brother. Back then, the idea of having a toddler to cuddle was comforting. Now “baby Jake” is a 14-year-old high-school freshman, who towers over me, and the days of cuddling are far and few in-between.

The Fast-paced Journey
It’s so crazy—we want our kids to grow up, to become productive adults in this world, and find their eternal calling in life. Naturally inquisitive, sandwiched in between two brothers, Cassie was born ready. From a very young age, she was wired to work hard, was very intelligent and extremely capable, and had no problem proving anyone wrong if they said she couldn’t do something simply because she was a girl. Lord knows she turned heads when people would see our small-framed girl step up in a big John Deere 8360R tractor, chisel plowing fields or covered in dirt and grease, as she helped her grandfather rebuild a tillage plow in the shop. She has a soft heart for Jersey cows, too. The few times Cassie has cried has included when she had to say a farewell goodbye to one of her cows when their time had come to leave the farm.

A Daddy’s Girl
From early on, holding her father’s big, callused hands, Cassie absolutely loved being by her daddy’s side, surrounded by Jersey cows and John Deere tractors, growing up on our family dairy farm. So, the idea of sending our daughter off to college to get an education and with the dream to return to her family dairy farm someday should have both her father and I beaming – which it does – but there is just something about saying goodbye that has us in tears.

If you know, you know. That’s all I can say. We all think time stands still when kids are little and needy and beg for one more story before bed and make chores take double the time, as they want to help in every way possible. Then it feels like maybe time doesn’t go quite fast enough when they are hormonal teenagers. But, somewhere along the way – through life’s hardships and opportunities that farm kids learn from being raised on a farm – their spines straighten with confidence, and they become capable of doing more, which means mom and dad do less, and their hearts become filled with passion – and then they leave the nest.

The Emotional Goodbye
And what’s a mom got to do other than cry? I suppose console her husband who is crying harder because he said goodbye to his only daughter. And while that goodbye was more of a “see ya later,” Scott’s eyes got heavy and watery, and he didn’t seem to want the hug to ever end. Cassie is a daddy’s girl. Let me make this clear: if Cassie had the choice to have a girl’s day with mom – lunch, shopping, maybe even a pedicure – or pull on some work boots and help dad in the barn, working with cows, she would pick working with her father every single day of the week. Even on her birthday. This is no joke.

Ask any parent, college campus drop-offs are bittersweet. We miss the human beings that we worked endlessly hard to get to this point. But, knowing our beautiful daughter is fierce, independent and smart, and the fact she has found a temporary place to call home helps mend our hearts and mind.

Adjusting to the New Normal
With corn chopping starting soon, Scott looked over at me on our way back home after dropping off our daughter and said, “K, you can interview producers from the cab of a tractor, right?”

I grinned and shook my head. Yes, I’m a farm girl, but I do have a day job I take very seriously. And, let me tell you all this – no, I’m not taking on that role because I’ve been around long enough to know that once I take on a role for the farm, I’ll never lose that role. Thankfully, it looks like we have a lot of helping hands on deck this year.

Although, I’ll admit, being extra busy helps fill the void of not seeing Cassie’s big smile around. So, maybe occasionally you’ll see me push pause on a Tuesday afternoon, in time to help feed calves. This is the day our calf feeder is off and the day of the week that Cassie would typically feed 100-plus Jersey calves.

So, obviously we all miss Cassie. Not just when it comes to having an extra gal run chopper wagons or vaccinate dry cows or feed calves. We will miss the beautiful, extraordinary woman that she is. Especially on those long days, when she would come inside around 7 p.m., starving, ready for dinner, just to find out that there was no dinner prepared. No question asked, Cassie would start the stove. When I would thank her, she would say, “No big deal. You were still working in the office mom.” How on earth did I get so darn lucky? It’s not even like Cassie didn’t work a 12-hour day. But that’s my girl. She always was willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand. Her preference, of course, is in the barns or fields, but she had no problem helping her mom because “that’s what family does.”

So, now the tears are flowing hard and for those of you that have pint-sized kids still at home and might not understand the saga of what I’m going through, I get it. Everyone tells you don’t let your kids grow up and they tell you it happens in the blink of an eye. Which is the truth. My takeaway message is that life moves quickly and as parents we get these glittering moments of watching our children grow and become independent. While it’s all that we hoped they would become, it still is bittersweet. The transition isn’t for the faint of hearts, but it certainly does fill our hearts with pride and love. Moms and dads cherish every moment, for they are fleeting.

Finding Meaning in Passionate Work

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 12:41:57 GMT

When someone passes away, it naturally serves as a reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed and nobody knows when the good Lord will call us home. Recently, I learned of the sudden passing of one of my colleagues, Greg Henderson, who was the editorial director for our beef brand, Drovers. My heart sank upon hearing the news, and I was struck by a profound sense of loss.

A Heartfelt Farewell
Greg was on the verge of retirement, and it broke my heart to think that he didn’t get to enjoy those years of peace and relaxation. The sorrow I felt when my father passed away in 2016 came flooding back. My father had suffered a massive stroke in 2008 and spent nearly five weeks in the ICU years before his passing and Greg’s passing brought back all those painful memories.

Lessons Learned
Years before my father’s stroke, I remember having a conversation with him about not taking time off. He was incredibly proud of the fact that he milked cows every day, twice a day for decades. “I’m sure I hold some kind of record,” he once told me with a sense of pride. As my dad lay in the ICU after his stroke, I recalled that ‘record’ and felt an overwhelming urge to shake him and tell him, “Nobody cared about your record.” But, through tears and with time, I came to understand that the record meant a lot to him.

My father grew up incredibly poor – beyond my comprehension – and was determined to build a better life for his own family. He was devoted to providing the financial and emotional support that his own family had failed to provide for him. So, dad poured himself into his work of being a dairy farmer and he was so proud of the farm and family he built.

The Heart of a Rancher
Greg’s journey in the beef industry was more than just a career; it was his life’s purpose. Much like my late father, who loved his work, Greg was deeply committed to the ranchers he served. He always had their back. His connection to the beef audience wasn’t just professional; it was personal. Greg understood the challenges, joys, and intricacies of ranch life because he was one of them. This allowed him to create content that was not only informative but also resonated with the heart and soul of the rancher community.

As I reflect on Greg’s life and work, I am reminded of my late father and the common thread that binds passionate individuals like them. They both missed out on what many might call the ‘easy years,’ but they gained something much more valuable in return—the joy and fulfillment of doing work they loved.

9 Rules Parents Throw Out the Window During Fair Week

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 21:14:03 GMT

This story originally appeared in August 2023. It recently placed third in the Ag Communicators Network’s Contest for humorous writing and it received an honorable mention in miscellaneous writing in the Livestock Publication’s Council’s Contest.

We try to be good parents by setting boundaries for our kids. When it’s all said and done, we hope we raise decent humans who are kind, make good choices and respect others.

But let’s be real.

During fair week, that all goes out the window. We are parenting to survive. There are no blue ribbons for “Mom of the Week” or “Dad of the Day,” so do what you gotta do to get through the hot calves, grumpy barrows, whiny goats, bored lambs and tired kids.

To protect the innocence of all parents involved, here’s an anonymous list of good parenting rules that go out the window during fair week:

(Farm Journal)

1. Eat healthy meals and snacks.

Fair week requires fuel – and fuel that’s “sealed” from shavings and dust. Oh sure, there are probably many pre-packaged nutritious snacks out there. But kids don’t like them. They are the snacks that live on for years in the snack tub and get overlooked for Cool Ranch Doritos, Fruit Snacks and Oreos. The reality is – even if you don’t buy those unhealthy snacks for your kids – they find them. There is power in numbers and these kids know how to come together when it comes to food and find the weakest links.

(Farm Journal)

2. Don’t talk to strangers.

Although we typically may not encourage our kids to strike up conversations with strangers, when they are in the livestock barn with their animals, they are encouraged (and praised) for engaging with fairgoers in an attempt to help them learn more about livestock and agriculture in general. “We encourage kids to ‘agvocate,’” one mom says. “So much for ‘don’t talk to strangers.’”

3. Take a bath before bedtime.

After a long day at the fair, there is perhaps nothing more important than getting a good bath before bedtime. But when your kids are little, one mom adamantly believes swimming in the hotel pool counts as bathing. You’ve only got so much time and energy, pool “baths” are lifesavers and help build friendships along the way with buddies at the pool.

(Farm Journal)

4. Don’t drink caffeine.

A lot of stock show kids are also athletes who avoid caffeine throughout the year...except for fair week. During fair week, some parents do crazy things like let their 9-year-old try her first Mountain Dew at 10 p.m. after the show ends because they know they aren’t going to be able to get her to bed for hours yet. May as well make those last hours of the day more fun for all!

5. Tell your parents where you are at all times.

Many parents agree they give their kids more freedom at the fair because they are surrounded by “their people.” Stock show parents look out for each other’s kids. It’s truly a family, one mom points out, and sometimes you end up getting more than your fair share of “children” at your pens. This is a good thing, so soak it all in while you can and be glad they chose to hang out near your family.

(Farm Journal)

6. Get 8 hours of sleep.

The stock show life isn’t about getting a lot of sleep. It’s about doing everything you can to make your animal’s life better. That means early mornings and late nights, with little time for sleep in between. Parents, let that guilt ride when your kids don’t get a lot of sleep because they will recover at some point. In the meantime, equip yourself with extra patience.

(Farm Journal)

7. Abide by screen time limits.

Your oldest child is getting ready to go into the ring and your youngest starts to complain that he is bored. As much as we know we shouldn’t do it, it’s acceptable during fair week to extend the screen time and hand them your phone. A quiet kid means a parent who gets to watch their sibling show. Sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

(Farm Journal)

8. Don’t accept bribes.

Bribing may be used from time to time to get little ones to behave during fair week. Although not normal practice, bribes of dipping dots or golf cart rides help parents who may be close to losing their mind survive a crazy show week. One mom who admits to the occasional bribe says, “The more kids and animals we have, the more desperate we get at times!”

9. Don’t miss curfew.

For the older kids, many stock show parents admit they modify curfew a bit during the fair because it’s often the only time they get to see some of their friends. However, one mom says, “We want our son to have fun spending time with his friends that he only sees at the fair after working hard all day long, but it’s a fine balance as we want to make sure he gets enough sleep so he can work all day and function again the next day.”

Despite what you think of this list of parenting rules that go out the window during fair week, I truly believe stock show parents are some of the best around. Part of being a good parent is knowing when to flex and when to stand firm. Stock show kids have a pretty intense schedule filled with commitments and responsibilities. Fair week is a great opportunity to loosen the strings a little, focus on building friendships and letting things like hygiene and nutrition go...for just a few days.

Photos submitted by Ellen Homann, Blake and Wravenna Bloomberg, Sarah Horner, Shelia Grobosky, Doug Hankes and Jennifer Shike.

Read More:

There’s Just Something About Stock Show Friends

The Stock Show “Prize” We Need to Talk More About

Unpopular County Fair Opinion

The Company You Keep Matters

How to Walk into a Room and Truly "See" People

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:33:15 GMT

When you run into people every day, do you really “see” them? Lately I’ve been thinking about the people in my life who truly “see” me – who aren’t too busy or preoccupied to notice how I am really doing.

My friend Mary does this. From the outside, she may be the tiniest person I know. But inside, she is a giant of a human who has a love for people like no other. I haven’t known her for long, but the impact she has made in that time is startling.

Mary will be the first to admit her shortcomings and claim she doesn’t have any profound knowledge to share. I argue this isn’t true, but she’s also taught me that it’s less about saying the right things and more about saying something.

I’ll never forget the night when I stopped by a church meeting on my way home from being at a work conference for three days. I had been driving for over six hours and was exhausted – mentally and physically. But I really wanted to be at the meeting to support our church.

The first person I saw when I walked in was Mary. She came over and gave me a hug and asked me how I was doing. Then she said, “Oh Jennifer, I love your jacket. You look so beautiful in that color. But, oh, your eyes look tired. Are you ok?”

I remember thinking in that moment that she really saw me – I mean, maybe I looked more awful than I realized. However, I think she could see the tired in my eyes that others probably wouldn’t have noticed because they didn’t take the time to really look.

That’s what I love about her. She takes the time to see people. I want to be more like Mary – to really see people and then, to not be afraid to say something.

I think we need to do a better job of celebrating with people when they are happy. We need to do a better job of sitting with people when they are struggling. We need to do a better job of noticing when someone’s acting differently than normal.

I hope we all have a Mary in our lives. Admittedly, we can’t force others to be a Mary to us, but we can be one to them.

Your Thoughts Matter

It’s graduation week for my daughter. I’m so proud of the diversity of talented kids with big dreams in her class. They’ve been through a lot together and my heart aches deeply for the empty chair where one of her classmates should be sitting on Sunday.

It’s incredibly hard to be a teenager in this world where literally everything is at your fingertips. Rising expectations for our young people to grow up faster than they should make me frustrated. It’s no wonder kids today don’t feel like they get to be kids for long.

Did you know that over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life? According to the latest Mental Health America report , 16.39% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. 11.5% of youth (over 2.7 million youth) are experiencing severe major depression.

We have to open our eyes and “see” people – and it doesn’t matter if it’s a 14-year-old or a 64-year-old. How can we walk into a room with eyes like my friend Mary that truly seek to see?

Stop the “If Only This Would Happen” Game Now

Break the Stigma: It Starts With You and Me

Don’t Doubt Your Purpose When You Find Yourself in a Weird Spot

By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope

Breaking Taboo: Parent’s Worst Nightmare, Child’s Near-Fatal Decision

More Resources on Mental Health Wellness:

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?

Stress: Action is Key

Farmers, Ranchers Have Ways to Manage Stress

Suicide Prevention: Your Worth Isn’t Measured By The Markets

Don’t Let Social Distancing Lead to Social Isolation

Connect With Farmers In-Person On Mental Health

Simple, Daily Habits to Help Manage Stress

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

When Your Trampoline Breaks: Avoid Isolation

7 Steps to Reduce Farm and Financial Stress

How and Why to Laugh, Even When it’s Hard

Watch for Signs of Suicidal Risk on Your Farm

Stop the “If Only This Would Happen” Game Now

Tue, 07 May 2024 21:09:35 GMT

You need to do what you need to do to make your life better. Is it really that simple? Ted Matthews, a mental health practitioner with Rural Minnesota Mental Health Support , told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory that far too many people hear mental health and immediately think mental illness.

For many farmers that Matthews talks to, it’s “not that bad.” Farmers say they can handle the stress, Matthews says. This works until it doesn’t.

“We’re constantly pressured into this concept that it has to get to a certain point before we take care of ourselves,” Matthews explains. “And that’s absolutely stupid.”

Instead, farmers need to take care of themselves now, so they don’t have to worry about going down that road later.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Not only is it a time to address the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, but it’s also a reminder to take care of your mental health.

“Everybody’s different,” Matthews says. What drives one farmer crazy may not phase another farmer at all. He encourages people to take a step back when stress sets in and evaluate what’s under their control and what’s not.

“We can’t control the water. We can’t control the sun. We can’t control a lot of different things,” he says. “But we can focus on the things we can control. That will give us enough energy to get those things done. Far too often I see people get so wrapped up in all the things that they can’t do, that they end up not doing the things they can do because they’re so stressed.

Knowledge, however, doesn’t always result in the stress going away.

“Just because I know something, doesn’t mean I’m not going to get stressed,” he explains. “That’s something that we always need to look at. I always tell people, be nice. Take care of yourself. Do what you need to do to make your life better.”

Click here to download the eBook “Your Guide to Mental Health.”

Matthews says if you want to be more supportive of a farmer, say, “It must be really hard,” and let them tell you how they’re feeling about it. Don’t tell them what they should feel. Let them tell you what they do feel.

Everyone is always racing around like they’re at the Indy 500, he adds.

“I’m not saying it’s not important to get the crop in, but if you can take an extra half hour to have a cup of coffee, take an extra 10 minutes to talk to your wife or your kids or both, it will help,” Matthews says. “Take care of that end so it does not become an overwhelming stressor.”

Remember that your thoughts matter. When stress sets in, ask yourself these questions:
-What can I do to make life better?
-How can I listen better?
-How can I take care of myself better?
-How can I look at my mental health in a way that says, ‘I’m feeling better, and if I’m not, I’m responsible to make myself feel better.’

It’s time to stop waiting on others to step in, he adds.

“If only they would do this. If this happened, then I would (fill in the blank),” Matthews says. “Stop thinking those thoughts because we have no control over them. Focus on the things you do have control over, and you’re going to be a healthier person.”

Read More:

Mental Health on the Farm: One Swine Production Manager’s Story

5 Ways to Work Through Difficult Times

By Her Own Hand: A Farm Girl’s Miraculous Journey from Death to Hope

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

Lack of Understanding Leads to Loneliness in Farmers

Toxic Grit: Is Our Greatest Strength Our Greatest Weakness on the Farm?

Stress: Action is Key

Farmers, Ranchers Have Ways to Manage Stress

Suicide Prevention: Your Worth Isn’t Measured By The Markets

Don’t Let Social Distancing Lead to Social Isolation

Connect With Farmers In-Person On Mental Health

Simple, Daily Habits to Help Manage Stress

Pay Attention to Warning Signs of Stress

When Your Trampoline Breaks: Avoid Isolation

7 Steps to Reduce Farm and Financial Stress

How and Why to Laugh, Even When it’s Hard

Watch for Signs of Suicidal Risk on Your Farm

Hay, Feed, Fencing Supplies Needed to Support Panhandle Wildfire Victims

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:08:50 GMT

Donations of hay, feed, fencing supplies, cow feed and milk replacer are needed to support livestock owners impacted by the devastating wildfires that have scorched ranchland across a large portion of the Texas Panhandle.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is establishing Animal Supply Points in several locations in the region to accept the donations. The purpose of the Animal Supply Point is to meet area producers’ most critical needs such as providing feed for cattle while they assess their individual operation’s other needs.

The ongoing wildfires, fueled by dry, windy conditions, have exceeded 1 million acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service . The Forest Service will continue to update the size and containment of these and other fires in the Texas Panhandle.

“These donations will go directly to those who need them as soon as possible,” said Monty Dozier, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment Recovery, DAR , program director, Bryan-College Station. “Texans are known for their generosity and deep values of Texas agriculture during times of need. This is certainly a situation where our neighbors and friends are needing assistance after these fires have threatened their livelihoods.”

Supply points for livestock and money donation information

Several Animal Supply Points are being set up through AgriLife Extension’s DAR program. Those with hay, feed or fencing materials to donate, or with equipment to help haul hay, should contact the following supply points and coordinators:

Gray County Animal Supply Point: Clyde Carruth Pavilion, 301 Bull Barn Drive, Pampa. Contact Marcus Preuninger at 806-669-8033 or 325-728-0477.
Hemphill County Animal Supply Point at Canadian AH&N Ranch Supply, 100 Hackberry St., Canadian. Contact Andy Holloway at 806-323-9114.
Donations of hay can also be made through the Texas Department of Agriculture Hay Hotline . And, a relief fund has been established through the STAR Fund Disaster Assistance through the Texas Department of Agriculture .
Direct monetary donations in Gray County should be sent to: City of Pampa – Attn: Finance, Box 2499, Pampa, Texas 79066-2499, reference 02/27/2024 Fire, or made by phone or in person at FirstBank Southwest-Pampa at 806-669-8007. Reference City of Pampa donation for Smokehouse Creek Fire.
To make donations for people who lost their homes in Hemphill County, go to First Baptist Canadian at http://fbccanadian.org/firehelp/ .

Continuing outreach and education

AgriLife Extension will provide more educational information as it becomes available on the losses and needs of those affected by the wildfires.

More preparedness and recovery information may be found on the Disaster Assessment and Recovery website . Safety tips and wildfire resources are also available on the Texas Ready website and the Texas A&M Forest Service website .

Hispanic Farmers and Producers Help Keep Food on America’s Tables

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:17:41 GMT

By Jesse Larios

Those of us who work in agriculture talk a lot about our roots. That’s because our land, our families, our heritage and our livelihoods are often tied up together. Across America, farming tends to be a multigenerational business, with families working together to make a living from the land, often against the powerful forces of weather, markets and time.

This month is Hispanic Heritage Month, and it got me thinking about my family’s roots and the contributions that my Latino and Latina brothers and sisters have made to agriculture in the U.S. From the vaquero days of the 1800s, when Hispanic ranchers and horsemen helped build up the American West, to the new generation of tech-savvy producers working at agriculture’s cutting edge today, Hispanic farmers, workers and producers have always been integral to keeping food on America’s tables.

There are over 112,000 Hispanic farmers and producers in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent Census of Agriculture – making us the largest group of minority farmers in America. The Hispanic community also plays an outsized role throughout the food and agriculture value chain, as about 80% of farm laborers, 44% of meatpacking workers and a quarter of restaurant and food service employees are Hispanic.

In many cases, Hispanic workers have been vital to keeping our food system running during our country’s darkest hours. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Latino and Latina essential workers were on the front lines in fields and factories, risking illness or worse so that all Americans could stay fed. Looking further back, when many working-age men went off to fight in World War II, workers from Mexico helped ease U.S. labor shortages in agriculture, harvesting crops that the entire country depended on. Many workers, including my own father, came to this country through the Bracero Program , which lasted from World War II through the 1960s and enabled millions of families like mine to enter this country legally and chase the American dream.

America is a country built by immigrants, with each generation adding to the foundations of the ones who came before. My father and uncles, who initially started as laborers in the orchards of Arizona, later joined the cattle feedlot industry in California’s Imperial Valley. My father ended up working at the same feed yard for 43 years, and later, after attending college and gaining some work experience, I had the opportunity to come home and manage that same operation where my family had grown up. I have been blessed to be able to feed cattle throughout the West, something I could have only dreamed about as a child. My parents were proud that all of their children and grandchildren received a college education, something that my daughters are now taking even further by pursuing advanced degrees in psychology and medicine.

Today, a new generation of Hispanic farmers is rising up in agriculture, and I am excited to see what the future holds. Many have made the leap from farmworker to farm owner, and this new generation is often focused on giving back, whether by implementing new sustainable farming practices, fighting to be seen as equal for the fruits of our labor or promoting food security in their communities.

Although some people may still think of us as newcomers, the Hispanic community has deep roots in America and in American agriculture. I am proud of this heritage – this month and every month – eternally grateful for my forebears’ contributions and inspired by what’s to come.

Jesse Larios is a Farmer Ambassador with Farm Journal Foundation , where he works to educate policymakers and consumers about agriculture’s contribution to global food security. He is a cattle farmer from Holtville, Calif.

The Top 6 Survival Tips for Raising Teen Farm Kids

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:25:27 GMT

The toughest job in the world is that of being a mother. Raising children is tough. I think most moms would agree that they would take a toddler again over parenting a teenager. Raising teens is not easy and while many of those years are spent watching our children thrive, other times we are just trying to survive. Who is with me here?

Summer breaks mean longer days and while farmers love the endless sunlight to help with the endless workload, mothers might not share the same love. Summer means kids are home, and while that often means they can help more with the workload; it becomes a lot for parents at times. Sometimes when we are in the middle of preparing for county fair or baling straw is when the bellyaching occurs.

(Farm Journal)

The good news, or at least from my perspective, is that the older the teen gets the better the teen becomes. They learn the hard lessons that shape farmers to be the heartbeat of America, learning traits like commitment, working together and sacrifice.

Not long ago, I jotted down some survival tips when I found myself arguing with one of my teenagers. Let me assure you all, that I truly believe there is no better place to raise kids than on a farm. This especially holds true for teenagers who are finding their way and their purpose. There is always a job to do, and the landscape a farm provides is needed for a teen to figure out their purpose in life.

Fuel them up. Teenagers are growing at a rapid speed, so you must feed them. A LOT! I know this is a painful task, with groceries being so expensive, but my tip is to feed them some kind of protein before you talk to them. Feed your teens.

Establish boundaries. Those boundaries can be loosened the older and more mature they get. For example, my youngest son (age 13) has a rule that the phone is put up by 9 p.m. We let the kids know that phones are a privilege and when they are disrespectful, they lose privileges, like phones.

Establish expectations. This often means chores and what they are required to do around the farm, but also in the home. Sometimes when kids are having a tough time staying on task, I will write out what all needs to be done and then they can have time to hang out with friends, watch television or go fishing.

Step away. I began stepping away more. When it’s just the kids in the barn, they talk to each other — about school, about friends, about cows and farm life, and their problems. I think it’s healthy for open dialogue among siblings, and it is also healthy for kids to become their own problem solvers.

Fresh air. It cures just about anything. When kids have an attitude, scoot them outside.
Give them attention. While sometimes they might think they don’t need you (heck they might even be vocal to tell you that), spend time with your children. I would add, spend time with your children away from the farm and away from doing chores together. Grab ice cream in town together. Play basketball on the driveway together. Go watch a movie. Talk to them. Listen to them. Hug them. It’ll fill their hearts and minds, as well as yours.

Raising teens isn’t for the faint of hearts. It is a tough job. What tips would you add to this survival list?

Activists Continue to ‘Storm the Courts’

Wed, 24 May 2023 12:00:00 GMT

The mission of the Animal Agriculture Alliance is to “safeguard the future of animal agriculture,” including working to expose those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation. When talking about these groups, we are talking about animal rights extremists. You may be familiar with other tactics you’ve seen activists using before to disrupt the supply chain and attempt to end animal agriculture. Things like “undercover video” campaigns, staging protests at grocery stores and posting graphic content on social media might be known to you, but I wanted to share a recent trend of court cases – and unfortunately, “wins” – involving animal rights extremists.

In October of 2022, activists affiliated with Direct Action Everywhere (DXE) – one of the most extreme groups we follow – went to trial in Utah after the theft of two piglets from a farm location several years earlier. Both defendants, Wayne Hsiung, DXE founder, and Paul Pickelsimer, DXE core team member, were found not guilty.

This verdict was surprising to members of the agricultural community as the charges seemed very straightforward. However, when jurors were interviewed after the fact, it was revealed that their decision was ultimately because they thought the defendants, “just looked to do what was right.”

Direct Action Everywhere claimed another “victory” recently when two activists, Alexandra Paul (former Baywatch actress) and Alicia Santurio, were found not guilty of stealing two chickens from a transport truck outside of a California processing plant in 2021.

DXE is calling this push for change a part of their “right to rescue” campaign. They claim these incidents are not thefts but rather “open rescues,” and the recent court outcomes help give them the right to enter farms and other locations to “rescue” animals that need saving. However, when we know that the goal of this group is “total animal liberation” – it can be understood that they believe all animals need to be “saved” from being raised for food, no matter how humanely they are treated. In a March blog post, DXE “lead organizer” Almira Tanner wrote, “we’re building a movement to win what animals really need: Rose’s Law, an Animal Bill of Rights. And it’s working.”

Tanner continued, “We have the momentum and we cannot stop now. 2023 will bring more open rescues, more bold actions, and more trials.” As these efforts continue, the Alliance will be closely tuning in, including the next similarly-focused trial happening soon in Sonoma County, California.

While the verdict has been in favor of the activists in these recent trials, it’s important to hear from the other side of the courtroom. The Merced County, California District Attorney (where the recent trial was held) put out a strong statement of opposition to the local press. In the Fresno Bee, the DA wrote that the activists employed a “mistake of law” defense, which means “they believed it was legal to steal the animals in this instance.”

She made her perspective clear, stating: “Now there should be no further mistake that this conduct is illegal and anyone who commits these acts will be prosecuted. They, and everyone who reads this, is now on notice that it is illegal to take animals from another person, farm, or place of business. Moving forward from this verdict, there should be no further mistakes or misunderstandings: if you steal animals in Merced County, regardless of your personal beliefs, you will be prosecuted for that conduct.”

As we watch the next trial in California play out, as well as another upcoming trial in Wisconsin and the appeal of a previous loss in North Carolina, it will be interesting to see if the DA’s words ring true.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Animal Activist and Former Baywatch Star Found Not Guilty in ‘Open Rescue’

Farm Grandpas are Simply the Best

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:18:38 GMT

There is something about grandpas that are often like a fine wine. They age better. A friend once told me that farm men often make better grandfathers than fathers, as they learned to slow down a gear or two and appreciate the kids that were around them a little bit more. I don’t know if that holds true for all the men out there, but I can tell you I think there is a nugget of truth that apply to most.

Grandpas can tell the best stories. Or at least my father did. His imagination grew a tad wild the older he got, and the grandkids laugh at stories that now are hard to recall if there is any ounce of truth in them at all.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpas were raised in a great generation that experienced challenging times and through those challenges, made them to learn to appreciate some of life’s most simple things. Like the importance of eating a family meal together or playing a game of baseball in the front yard before the evening milking. Or even enjoy a pitcher of mom’s ice-tea after fixing fence on a hot summer day. My kids remember Grandpa Bob’s smile and his ability to listen. I can tell you that he did that pretty good as a father, too.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpas like Bob Davidson can talk about borrowing money to put in a new milking parlor and simultaneously rebuild the family home after a house fire during the early 1980s. Grandpas can talk about the value of 4-H, FFA and the importance of hard work, sacrifice and commitment.

Grandpas taught their children and grandchildren how to give a proper handshake. “It’s important to look them in the eye and give them a firm grip,” my kids would reminisce saying. Although grandpa Bob, who milked many cows back in his day, had a heck of grip that left the kids thinking he broke their hand.

(Farm Journal)

Grandpa Bob loved to read classic novels, from authors like Steinbeck, Emerson and Kesey and followed the stock market religiously. He listened to classic music when milking cows and to NPR over the noon lunch hour to tune into Paul Harvey. Bob Davidson demonstrated to his kids and grandkids the importance of money management and being well-read, which he would say, “both will serve you well in life.”

(Farm Journal)

I wish grandpas never had to die. Especially the ones that sported bib overalls and rubber boots. So much more could have been taught and so many more stories could have been shared. Farmers—slow down and appreciate the little ones around you. Tell the stories that have shaped you and share the struggles that have challenged you. The younger generation is soaking it all in and I promise you this, they will reshare your stories and remember your advice long after you are gone.