Articles tagged under: mental health

TransFARMation: Farmer Opens Up About His Battle With Depression

Published March 30, 2020

Thomas Duden, who farms in east central Minnesota, has been fighting a battle with depression over the past two years. Thomas says accepting the fact you have depression is hard; asking for help is even harder. It has taken a…

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TransFARMation: Navigating the Programs Available for Farm Stress

Published February 17, 2020

There are still crops in the field and finances are tight. "These issues can be overwhelming," says Minnesota's newest rural mental health specialist Monica McConkey. "A lot of farmers are in chronic stress situations, having been very stressed for several…

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TransFARMation: The Proper Attitude Can Help Take on the Challenges

Published February 3, 2020

Bob "Mr. Attitude" Prentice has roots in agriculture, coming from the Wessington, South Dakota area. So, how important is attitude in agriculture? "Attitude is everything, or at least I believe it is," says Bob. "It's not always about having a…

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TransFARMation: Let People Help You

Published January 20, 2020

Binford, North Dakota farmer and rancher Tanner Overby's life changed nearly one year ago on January 30, 2019 when both of his hands got caught in a feed mixer wagon. There were extensive injuries to his hands and arm and…

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TransFARMation: Farm Stress in Farm Children

Published December 16, 2019

Stress is certainly a reality in agriculture today. That stress also extends to children on the farm. Maddie Smith's family farms in southeastern Minnesota. While Maddie may only be a freshman in college, she recognizes what is happening on the…

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TransFARMation: Maneuvering the Farm Economy and Moving Forward

Published November 25, 2019

Farming and ranching can be overwhelming at times. That's why Minnesota, along with other states, have a Farm Advocate program to help farmers maneuver through the current farm economy.  "It's going to be okay, we're going to figure out what…

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TransFARMation: Faith and Farming

Published October 28, 2019

With low commodity markets and continued harvest delays, farm stress is a reality. Do you know a farmer or rancher who is struggling? Bishop Bill Tesch of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America says it's…

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TransFARMation: If Your Horse is Dead, It’s Not Going to Get You to Town

Published October 14, 2019

Mark Koehn is nearing the end of his second career as an agricultural appraiser for Stearns County in central Minnesota. Koehn started farming right out of high school in 1973. Low prices, bad weather and medical bills combined to be…

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TransFARMation: Ag Commissioner Responds to Tough Farm Economy

Published September 30, 2019

Farmers and ranchers are enduring a difficult economy. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen sees signs of farm stress every day.  "Farmers are in the fifth year of a downturn economy and it's eating into their equity. There are…

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TransFARMation: Dealing with the Uncontrollable

Published July 1, 2019

As a teenager, McKenzie Darling was hospitalized for suicidal ideation. The Langdon, North Dakota native has also had family members and friends that died by suicide. Today, Darling is a mental health advocate who speaks frequently on the warning signs…

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