Rural Realities

"Farm Children: They Experience Stress Too!" by Monica McConkey, Rural Mental Health Specialist Farming generally comes with a significant amount of stress that can negatively impact everyone involved in the operation including youth of any age. Monica McConkey, a rural mental health specialist from Minnesota, discusses the signs and symptoms of stressed children on the farm and how pare...

"Finding Fairness in Farm Transition" by Elaine Froese, Farm Transition Specialist Farmers navigate tough conversations and situations every single day but talking about farm succession and transition is a once-in-a-lifetime event that can come with its own unique set of challenges. Elaine Froese, a farm transition specialist, shares tips and tricks on setting yourself up for success whe...

"Farm Financials: When to Reach Out for Help" by Paul Dietmann, Compeer Financial In today’s ever-changing agricultural economic climate, navigating financials on the farm can be difficult and stressful. Paul Dietmann, a senior lending specialist with Compeer Financial, shares tools that can help you better evaluate your financial situation, key indicators of financial distress and where...

Discussing the "Undiscussabull" by Elaine Froese, Farm Transition Specialist  Whether you need to discuss farm viability, succession to the next generation, future visions or just a simple operation change with your family, going into the conversation with healthy conversation tools and the right mind set is key. Elaine Froese, a farm transition specialist and lifelong farmer, shares ins...

"Navigating Change When the World has Changed" by Dianne Deaton Vielhuber, Author and Pastor Farming tends to come with a lot of unprecedented changes. From bad weather to ever-changing markets, these changes can be stressful and cause anxiety. Dianne Deaton Vielhuber, an author and pastor, explores how to navigate change in these uncertain times in this “Rural Realities” podcast episode...

"Your Brain on Stress" by John Shutske, UW-Division of Extension Given the variety of ongoing challenges facing the agriculture industry, it comes as no surprise that Wisconsin farmers and their families are experiencing extreme amounts stress. While it is normal for everyone to experience stress at some point in their lifetime, prolonged stress can negatively impact you mentally and phy...

"Breaking the Stigma on Mental Health" by Renee Sutkay, Journey Mental Health From fluctuating prices to inclement weather, the uncertainty that comes with farming can create a lot of pressure and stress that weighs on you and your family. When the pressure becomes too much and starts to negatively impact your life, there is no shame in reaching out to a mental health professional for he...