Episode Description:
Lake Benton, Minnesota farmer Bob Worth was a ‘young gun’ when he began farming 50 years ago until the farm crisis of the 1980s hit, taking its toll. As a result, he went in to a severe case of depression. “It was so bad I didn’t even care if I got out of bed. Even if harvest was there, I didn’t care; it (the crop) could stay there.” Bob’s wife convinced him to go see a doctor. “I’m glad she did. The doctor put be on some medicine and diagnosed me with severe depression.” As a past president of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Bob has been vocal about his experience with depression. There are some similarities between the 1980s and the tough farm economy of today. “Six or seven years ago, we were flying as high as agriculture has ever flew. We were making good money and never though it could end. Well, guess what, it does end and that’s a lot of the shock.” Worth sees some of his fellows farmers struggling today and tries to get them to open up. He leaves listeners with this piece of advice. “Communication is so important, especially during times of stress.” Hear more in the latest TransFARMation podcast found above.