New MSU Extension film highlights farmer stress and mental health resources
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EmailMichigan farmers share powerful stories of resilience and hope in MSU Extension’s new short documentary, Weathering Together, which will premiere on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day.
Brandon Gingrich knows all too well the things he balances every day to keep his farm, Gingrich Meadows in LeRoy, running smoothly.
“There’s a lot of challenges as a farmer,” he said. “So many moving parts, anywhere from the field work to calf raising, employee management, breakdowns, repairs, working with family. Every day the weather’s different. Every year, the weather’s different. A lot of challenges face us every day.”
Farming has always demanded resilience. A new short film from Michigan State University Extension, called “Weathering Together,” explores that truth with unflinching honesty and hope.
Produced in partnership with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the 15-minute film gathers firsthand stories from farmers across Michigan who speak candidly about their challenges, mental health and the importance of seeking support.
In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day the film will premiere on YouTube at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 10. Afterward, the film will be available to view on both the MSU Extension YouTube channel and the MSU Extension Managing Farm Stress website.
Five farms from across Michigan participated in the documentary — Ware Farm in Bear Lake, Gingrich Meadows in LeRoy, Wunsch Farms in Traverse City, Rice Centennial Farm in Benzie County and Sietsema Farms in Allendale.
“By sharing their experiences, these farmers remind us that taking care of yourself is part of taking care of the farm,” said Remington Rice, MSU Extension’s farm stress specialist.
Rice, a behavioral health expert who grew up on a multigenerational farm from Northern Michigan, leads MSU Extension’s Managing Farm Stress program. This program offers a suite of resources to support agricultural professionals, from free online stress management courses to teletherapy services and financial and succession planning guides.
One of the primary goals of the film, said Rice, is to show that reaching out for help isn’t a weakness, but a practical step that farmers can take to support good decision-making, strong leadership and long-term farm success.
“You can’t take care of something else if you don’t take care of yourself,” said Valeria Johnson, a poultry and swine veterinarian at Sietsema Farms, profiled in the film. “You can’t care for 80,000 turkeys if you’re not taking care of your own mental health.”
Weathering Together captures more than the challenges of farming, though. The film also illustrates the indescribable connection and pride farmers feel in their work.
“It’s something I love to do,” said Randy Rice of Rice Centennial Farm. “It’s just a lot of joy…out in nature, you’re doing what you love, and it’s great.”
Get involved
To learn more about MSU Extension’s farm stress programming, visit the Managing Farm Stress website.
To support these efforts directly, consider donating to the Extension Farm Stress Project Endowment Fund.
