Rural Realities

Supporting the mental health of farmers and their families takes leadership, a vision, and action. Host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks to Melissa Ploeckelman Brown, Outreach Specialist for the National Farm Medicine Center and the National Children's Center for Rural Agricultural Health and Safety. From her roots on a family dairy farm to her work spreading lifesaving menta...

There are usually signs - your neighbor’s fields aren’t getting planted as usual, the equipment is sitting idle more than it should, or you haven’t seen them recently. You want to help but you don’t know how. In the final episode of our four-part series for May is Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center discusses some tips on how you can help. We are a community, agri...

Time pressure is the number one stressor identified by Wisconsin farmers. The never-ending to do list is real and the weight of it can be overwhelming. In the third episode of our four-part series for May is Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center discusses some strategies of tackling the to do list without burning out. The never ending to do list is part of farm life...

The second episode of our four-part series for May is Mental Health Month focuses on talking to children when you or your farm are going through a hard time. Join host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center as she discusses practical ways she has used to talk to her kids about challenging topics and what has worked at different ages. It’s important to protect our kids, but it is equally impor...

Spring is a busy time of year for those in agriculture. Taking the time to pause seems counterintuitive but in this first episode of our four-part series for May Is Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks about the importance of taking a pause for your emotional and physical health. “You cannot serve your farm, your family, or your community well if you are runn...

Supporting the mental health of farmers and their families takes leadership, a vision and action. Host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks to Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski about how he championed the creation of an innovative farmer mental health program and continues to advocate to farmers about the importance of reaching...

Family farm transitions is one of the most emotionally complex and stressful topics in agriculture. Host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks to Jace D. Young about how stress can build when expectations, communication and financial realities aren’t aligned. Jace, founder of Legacy Farmer, has lived this reality firsthand and now helps farm families across the country navigate transit...

It is easy to focus on the challenges on the farm but in this episode of Rural Realities, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks to Katy Schultz of Tri-Fecta Farms about gratitude and what fuels resiliency in our family businesses. Katy is a dairy farmer, a leader, and a firm believer in lifelong learning. Listen to learn about the simple gratitude practice Katy starts off each day...

As we enter the new year, many of us think about resolutions, but what if the real work isn’t just a new habit, but getting free from what is holding us back? In this episode of Rural Realities , host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks with Kayla Easland, a dually licensed therapist and founder of Woodfire Counseling, about setting goals and dealing with past trauma so you can live...

This episode digs into a topic that’s a little different from Rural Realities’ usual content, but it’s something that affects us all and can be especially relevant during the holidays: consumer protection. Michelle Reinen, the Administrator of DATCP’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, joins the Wisconsin Farm Center’s Karen Endres to discuss seasonal consumer protection issues and tips to...

We are resharing this episode as we approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday! This episode digs into a topic that’s a little different from Rural Realities’ usual content, but it’s something that affects us all and can be especially relevant during the holidays: consumer protection. The Wisconsin Farm Center’s Karen Endres sat down with Michelle Reinen, Division Administrator for the Division of Con...

Tom Moos and Deb Jakubek are the peer leaders for the Wisconsin Farm Center’s “Rural Relations” Online Support Group. “Rural Relations” is an online group for Wisconsin farmers and their families that is a safe space to share resources, encouragement, and advice while reducing stigma around difficult issues. It also offers participants practical guidance and tools to improve farm communications an...

Dorothy Harms and Vicky Meinholz, two of the leaders of the Farmer Angel Network, continue their conversation with the Wisconsin Farm Center’s Karen Endres about suicide prevention and the importance of hope in rural communities. Farmer Angel Network was created after the loss of Dorothy and Vicki’s friend, Leon Statz, who died by suicide. Since then, the two have dedicated themselves to supportin...

Dorothy Harms and Vicky Meinholz, two of the leaders of the Farmer Angel Network, join “Rural Realities” to share their story and mission. The network was created after the loss of their friend, Leon Statz, who died by suicide. Since then, Dorothy and Vicky have dedicated themselves to supporting farmer mental health through education, outreach, and unique community events. In this episode, they c...

In September each year we recognize world suicide prevention day on September 10.  In recognizing this we are sharing a previous episode with Dr. Sara Kohlbeck, a suicide prevention advocate.  Farmers and their families constantly experience business challenges that can lead to additional stress, mental health issues, and even suicide. Sara Kohlbeck, a suicide prevention advocate, discusses why we...

JoAnn Peterson's passion for Wisconsin agriculture runs deep—from her roots in a Wisconsin farm family to her current role as an Ag Program Specialist at the Wisconsin Farm Center. Whether educating young people about farming, helping producers evaluate their financials, or connecting farmers with essential resources, JoAnn has dedicated her professional life to strengthening rural communitie...

From working with beginning farmers to helping farmers navigate the process of transferring farms from one generation to the next or transitioning from one type of agriculture to another, Nikki Lennart is ready for the call.  Nikki joined the Wisconsin Farm Center team in June as an Ag Program Specialist. She connected with her colleague, Karen Endres, to discuss her unique background and her appr...

Growing up on a farm can be stressful, but it also helps develop resiliency. In this update episode, we reconnect with Sydni Mell, who experienced a life-changing farm accident as a college freshman that left her paralyzed and without the use of her legs. Despite this, Sydni graduated from UW–Madison in May 2025 with her Bachelor of Science degree in dairy science. She graduated on time and naviga...

In this episode of Rural Realities , Part 4 of our special series for Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres of the Wisconsin Farm Center shares how a simple daily gratitude practice can help farmers stay positive through the ups and downs of agriculture. Life on the farm isn’t easy but taking a few minutes each day to focus on what’s going right can build resilience, patience, and strength. Tune...

In this episode of Rural Realities , Part 3 of our special series for Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center talks directly to farmers about building resilience through the ups and downs of farm life. From weather challenges to family stresses, Karen shares real-world tips to help you stay strong, focused, and grounded. Tune in for practical ways to care for yourself...

In this episode of Rural Realities, Part 2 of our special series for Mental Health Month, host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center dives into two powerful wellness basics: hydration and nutrition. Karen shares easy, practical tips to help farmers fuel their bodies for long days in the field — because taking care of yourself is key to staying strong for your farm, family, and community. Tun...

Join host Karen Endres from the Wisconsin Farm Center for a special Rural Realities series in honor of May as Mental Health Month. In this episode, Karen shares practical ways farmers and agricultural workers can prioritize self-care, using relatable tips like the "gas tank" and "warning light" analogies to keep both body and mind in good condition. Tune in for quick, powerful...

The Wisconsin Farm Center focuses on helping farmers establish, sustain, grow, or effectively transition their agriculture businesses. Join Dan Bauer, Farm Center Supervisor, as he talks with Rural Realities host Karen Endres about the wide variety of free and confidential programs the center offers. Along the way you will learn a little bit of history of the Farm Center and how to easily access t...

Kevin Plante and Mark Schmitz help Wisconsin farmers navigate the process of transferring their farms to the next generation. Both work at the Wisconsin Farm Center as Farm Transition Advisors, and in this episode of our podcast, they offer some tips to farmers thinking about transition planning or already in the process. They connected with their colleague, Karen Endres, to discuss transition pla...

This episode digs into a topic that’s a little different from Rural Realities’ usual content, but it’s something that affects us all and can be especially relevant during the holidays: consumer protection. The Wisconsin Farm Center’s Karen Endres sat down with Michelle Reinen, Division Administrator for the Division of Consumer Protection at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protec...