Navigating the challenges of agriculture: Farm family helps with mental health outreach

GREENCASTLE, Ind. — When the stress of farming feels too much, Ray and Heather Poynter lace up their running shoes and head outside.

For their family, putting feet on pavement offers a moment of clarity — a way to release stress, breathe deep and keep going during seasons that demand resilience.

In the agriculture industry, there are a lot of unknowns, but being physically active is a constant.

For each farm family, managing stress looks different. But for everyone, it’s an important skill to have.

As board members of Putnam County Farm Bureau, the couple helped launch a meeting called “Navigating the Challenges of Agriculture” last year.

Professionals discussed ways to manage farm stress, suicide prevention and available resources for farmers.

“We’re going to do another meeting this February to raise awareness about farm stress,” Ray said. “Especially in times like this when the economy is on the down turn — there’s a lot of stresses that go along with it. People don’t want to lose everything they worked for all their life.”

Kurt Lanzone, Parke County Extension educator and part of the Purdue Farm Stress Team, was a keynote speaker at the event last year.

“One of the most important things to realize is that you’re the most important asset to your farm,” Lanzone said.

“You’re the person doing the work, making the decisions, making sure the bills get paid. All of these things rely on you to do it. How much pressure does that put on you?”

It’s crucial for farmers to take care of their mental health.

Lanzone defined stress as anything that gives you a feeling of anticipation — that heightened sense of awareness.

“One of the main things we have to talk about is recognizing stress,” Lanzone said. “If we don’t recognize it, we can’t deal with it.”

“You can be there for someone,” he said. “But you also need to know where resources are. Sometimes we have to call professionals. We’re not trained to deal with that kind of stuff. But we can be there to be supportive and reassuring. Sometimes it just takes a phone call or a text from someone.”

It’s OK to lean on your village, Lanzone encouraged. It’s OK to be vulnerable and to ask for help.

Lanzone also encouraged farmers to reach out and check on their friends.

“If you need resources, you can always reach out to your Extension office,” he said.

The second annual “Navigating the Challenges of Agriculture” meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 at Putnam County Fairgrounds, where Lanzone will present mental health resources.

For additional resources about farm stress, visit https://extension.purdue.edu/farm_stress/.