Tools For Today's Farmers
By Purdue Extension Farm Stress Team
Tools For Today's FarmersSep 30, 2022
When You Feel Better, Your Farm Better
Todd Price serves as the Vice President of Operations at Farm Foundation. Todd was raised on his family’s 170-year-old grain and livestock farm in southwest Iowa. He received a bachelor’s degree from Simpson College and is a 2014 graduate of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership program. Actively involved in various agricultural organizations, he currently serves as a board member for his local Farm Bureau and volunteers his time with the Glenview Clovers 4-H club and the local FFA chapter.
CareSource, Healthcare with Heart
Join us and the entire Indiana team from CareSource to learn about their initiatives in helping agriculture families get the help they need with medical care and more.
The Mullen Dairy & Creamery....a 125 year old history
Emily Mullen is a 2019 grad from The Ohio State University - ATI. Upon graduation Emily returned home to her family's 125 year old dairy farm in southwest Ohio. Knowing the key to survival as a small producer is diversification, Emily has since expanded the farm from cows and plows to bottling her own milk and events as far-fetched as calf yoga. She has also built a new facility incorporating a robotic milker and provides behind the scenes tours to schools and other groups in the community.
FaceBook: The Mullen Dairy & Creamery
TikTok/ Instagram: The.M.D.C
Interview with Kourtney Otte--Student, Author, Leader and Advocate
Kourtney, a present Sophomore at Purdue University, is diligently pursuing a dual major in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Economics, specializing in Agricultural Law and Policy. Her academic pursuits reflect a commitment to comprehensively understanding the intricate intersection of agriculture, economics, and legal frameworks.
Post-Purdue, Kourtney envisions furthering her educational journey by obtaining a Law degree, driven by a passionate aspiration to act as a catalyst in bridging the divide between agriculturalists and policymakers. Her desire is to contribute to the development of nuanced and informed agricultural policies that harmonize with the needs of the industry.
Beyond her academic endeavors, Kourtney showcases her literary and artistic talents as a published author and illustrator. Her inaugural work, "The Young American Farmer," stands as a captivating children's book strategically designed to foster agricultural literacy. This literary creation serves as a catalyst for elevated discourse surrounding the profound impact of agriculture on our daily lives.
Kourtney's leadership acumen has been exemplified through her tenure as the State President for Indiana FFA from 2021-2022, where she demonstrated a commitment to advancing agricultural education and fostering a sense of community among aspiring agriculturists.
Currently, Kourtney occupies a significant role as an Intern for USDA-FSA, where she actively engages in the practical aspects of agricultural policy, gaining invaluable insights that complement her academic pursuits.
Mind Your Melons with Marshal Sewell
Marshal Sewell was raised on his family’s fifth generation fruit and vegetable farm in Plant City, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, he began a career in the vegetable seed industry. He currently works with Bayer Vegetable Seeds as a member of their Global Strategic Accounts team. His personal farm experience and his professional work across the produce business have given him a close look at stress and challenges in agriculture. Outside of work, he and his family are active advocates for mental health and stress management, both in- and out of agriculture. Through their Mind Your Melon platform, they seek to inspire healthier minds through proactive lifestyles.
Website: mindyourmelon.org
Facebook: @Mind Your Melon
Instagram: @mindurmelon
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch shares her passion for mental health in Indiana
Proud to have been born and raised in Evansville, 52nd Lieutenant Governor of Indiana Suzanne Crouch is a lifelong Hoosier.
Constitutionally, as lieutenant governor, Crouch serves as the President of the Indiana Senate. Statutorily, the lieutenant governor oversees a portfolio of agencies that includes the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC). Additionally, she chairs the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, Intellectual and Development Disabilities Task Force, The Indiana Main Street Council, INVets and the Civics Education Commission.
From 2014 to 2017, Crouch served as Indiana’s State Auditor. Before becoming State Auditor, she represented House District 78, which encompasses parts of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties, in the Indiana House of Representatives. She was a state representative for nine years.
Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, the lieutenant governor spent eight years as auditor of Vanderburgh County.
Website: lg.in.gov
Facebook: Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch
LinkedIn: Office of Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch
Twitter: @LGSuzanneCrouch
Instagram: @lgsuzannecrouch
Youth Perspective on Shows, School, and Stress
Join us as Kaitlin, a sophomore at Delta High School, shares how she manages it all. As a 8 year 4H Member, a junior leader, and participates in extra curriculars at school- she keeps a simple perspective for managing her stress.
Next Level Broadband--what YOU need to know about Connections
Dr. Roberto Gallardo is the Vice President for Engagement at Purdue University. He is an Agricultural Economics associate professor and holds an electronic and communications engineering undergraduate degree, a master's in economic development, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. He is the author of the book “Responsive Countryside: The Digital Age & Rural Communities.”
He assisted the state of Indiana implement their broadband programs acting as their Next Level Broadband Connections Director for six months and he is now spearheading Indiana’s first digital equity plan. Dr. Gallardo is also working with his team to evaluate the impact of the Economic Development Administration $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge program and is partnering with the Indiana University Public Policy Institute.
Dr. Roberto Gallardo plays a crucial part in the Purdue Broadband Team. This team aims to harness the power of Indiana’s land-grant institution to help expand broadband access, adoption, and use as an essential catalyst for economic growth in the state. The federal government, in partnership with states, is deploying broadband funds through the Broadband Equity, Adoption, and Deployment program, also known as BEAD. Indiana is receiving close to $870 million starting mid to late 2024. A map put together by the Federal Communications Commission or FCC, the government entity that regulates telecommunications, will dictate where these funds go.
Follow these links to make sure Indiana’s broadband map is as accurate as possible.
Run Speed Test: https://pcrd.purdue.edu/speedtest/
Affordable Connectivity Program: https://www.fcc.gov/acp
Indiana Connectivity Program: https://www.in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp/?_ga=2.178659300.1594573730.1701961704-171136276.1681841978
Warm Welcome to Dr. Engel, Dean of Purdue School Of Agriculture
Joining us today is Dr. Engel the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. We are excited for you to hear about his vision and plan moving forward with both the college of Agriculture at Purdue University and Extension. Follow Dr. Engel on the social media outlets listed below:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PurdueAgDean and https://twitter.com/PurdueAg
Website: https://ag.purdue.edu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purdue_ag/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PurdueAg/
Bailey DeGroat, The Turquoise Vet
Bailey DeGroat, is a third-year veterinary student at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While she is juggling veterinary school she is also a business owner of The Turquoise Vet, and a woman in agriculture empowering others to discuss mental health.
To find more information and resources check out:
- Instagram & Facebook: @theturquoisevet
- Website: theturquoisevet.com
- Etsy: TheTurquoiseVet
Dr. Merle Holsopple – A Rural Medicine Perspective
Dr. Merle Holsopple is a former farmer turned family physician who serves rural and farm communities in Daviess County, Indiana. Join us as we talk to Dr. Holsopple about protecting the health and safety of the farming community, including prevention efforts like vaccines and facing complex challenges like mental health.
Purdue Extension is part of a national Extension network effort to provide trusted, reliable education about vaccines through the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching & Engagement, also known as EXCITE. Visit https://extension.illinois.edu/vaccines/adult-vaccines to learn more about adult vaccinations and https://excite.extension.org to learn more about EXCITE.
Women in Ag-- Jenna Nees
Jenna is no stranger to Purdue Extension. Her heart and passion is in Extension but goes deeper into her hometown roots. Join us and Jenna as we talk all things farm stress, women in ag, and future programs you might want to be involved in!
Progressive Ag Safety Days
Join us as we talk about Progressive Ag Safety Days and how important they are for our future young farmers and youth interested in agriculture. If you want more information about Progressive Ag Days follow the link below!
https://www.progressiveag.org/
The Queen is here!
Join us with Claire Bishop the reigning Indiana State Fair Queen!
Shaffer Gold Rush
Aimee Inskeep and Lynsee Pullen grew up on their family’s swine and grain operation along with showing pigs across the United States. Aimee and Lynsee returned home to work on the family farm – Shaffer Goldrush, a show pig operation. They work alongside their family in this multigenerational business selling semen, show pigs, and breeding stock across the United States.
These ladies wear many different hats in their daily lives! Listen in to hear them share more about being a mother, working on their family operation, and how they juggle work and life!!
Check out their website at: https://www.shaffergoldrush.com/
2 Guys Pies
Welcome, Jennifer, Emmett, and Bennett to the show. This family has used their journey with a farm accident, tragedy, and grief to create a small business to help their fellow farming families caught in similar situations. If you or someone you know is suffering please use the Indiana 988 line by call or text to get help in times of crisis.
Gracie Lee with State FFA
Gracie Lee from Randolph County joins us on the show today. She shares her non-traditional entrance into Agriculture, her current projects, and future plans.
Joe Ricker-- Veteran-- Bee Keeping & Outreach
Joe is a recently retired Army Colonel who specialized in Logistics and Information Management. His 30 years in the military brought him to Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other countries. He developed not only a drive to get the mission done, but a desire to help people. After two tours in the Pentagon and meeting the AgrAbility Veteran team in 2016 at a workshop he decided that agriculture was going to be his focus in retirement and helping Veterans is his passion.
He is the founder of At Ease Orchard, a non-profit that is focused on getting Veterans, First Responders and their family members into Beekeeping and other farm activities. Over the past two years At Ease Orchard has provided over 20 hives, mentorship, and training to their beneficiaries. He also manages his property with 250 apple trees as well as 8 beehives. Joe is also the Secretary of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Indiana Chapter.
Joe is currently the Veteran Outreach Coordinator for AgrAbility where he mentors Veterans on Veteran specific resources and provides guidance to dozens of Veterans every month on pursuing their passion on getting into Agriculture.
Dr. John Feutz with Princeton Veterinary
Dr. John graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and joined the Princeton Veterinary Hospital team in 2005. He loves that every day at work is different and fun, which makes it not be work! He has served as the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association President to help give back to the organization and profession that he loves. Dr. John is also very involved in the local community with Gibson County Farm Bureau, Gibson County Fair Board, and the Gibson County Antique Machinery Club. He loves relaxing at the end of the day with his family on their farm.
Interview with Tracie Egger and AgReliant Genetics
Dr. Egger is the Learning & Development Lead at AgReliant Genetics, Westfield, IN. In her role, she focuses on her two passions – people and leadership development. She thrives on the combination of the two while inspiring managers and leaders of people to maximize the performance of their teams. She specializes in training, facilitating groups, coaching, and professional and leadership development. She is a trusted leader in career development, as well as leadership coaching. Additionally, she has been instrumental in leading the AgReliant Women’s Network which provides a platform for AgReliant women to connect and engage in growth opportunities.
A conversation with TV anchor Jen Dalton
The team has a discussion with Jen Dalton from WKRC-TV in Cincinnati discusses mental health .
Meet the Tools for Today's Famer Podcast team
Today we talk with the team that puts together these podcast . We look at what we have done in the past and what we are looking forward to in the future with this progam.
Jay County Tourism & the Agriculture Industry
Join Mary Adair, the Tourism Director of Jay County Indiana, as she discusses her agriculture background and how she uses that to market events to the community.
Elise Koning Interview Part 2- Let's talk Mental Health
Welcome back to the 2nd part of our interview with Elise. Join in the conversation as Elise has a frank conversation with Abby and Rachel about her struggles with mental health and the ways she has dealt with those challenges.
Conversation with Elise Koning
Elise Koning has a conversation about the stress of having a small farm in Indiana and also the struggles of being a migrant worker in a foreign country. Tune in today, but stick around for part 2 next week!
Stephanie with Jacob's Family Apple Orchard
Join us as we talk with Stephanie from Jacob's Family Apple Orchard in New Castle Indiana. We learned so much about the family operation and the community of orchards in Indiana.
Sandy Hacker, Commercial & Agriculture Loan Officer
Interview with Sandy Hacker from Bippus State Bank. As a local agriculture loan officer Sandy gives her thoughts, ideas, and hopes about the finance side of farming and agriculture.
Ivy Tech and the Agriculture Program with Stacy Clupper
Join us and Stacy Clupper from Ivy Tech Marion campus as we talk about the agriculture program and what students learn during an Ivy Tech educational program.
Interview with Kimber Nicoletti-Martinez
Kimber wears a lot of hats at Purdue University. She's been with Purdue for 18 years! She's currently the MESA Director at Purdue University. Kimber works with Latinx and farm worker families to strengthen and encourage their day-to-day life in agriculture. Please take a listen to her fantastic work and story!
Kelly Kitchel Interview
Kelly is a jack of all trades. But you may recognize his voice as the voice of Purdue Football Sidelines. Kelly's time at Purdue in athletics has served him well both personally and professionally. Today we will talk with Kelly about his involvement with agriculture and what he's teaching future generations about its importance.
A conversation with Bec Wicker about stress on the farm a ways to mitigate it
Bec Wicker a farmer, former Crop insurance manager and Purdue Women In Agriculture award winner talks about stresses on the family farm and using insurance as a way to help mitigate some of the stress on the farm.
A conversation about Farm Safety with Ed Sheldon from Agrablity
We talk to farm safety expert Ed Sheldon about farm safety and farm stress.
Interview with Maddie Caldwell
Maddie Caldwell holds an impressive resume in the FFA and pork industry. But in this episode, we will talk about the importance of mental health, especially with families and youth. This episode is a "can't miss" one!
Kady Fuhrmann with Ohio H20 Incentive Project
Join us as we talk with Kady about family farming, the stress it can cause, how she copes, and her role with the Ohio Soils & Water office and a program she's managing.
Share the Road--With Sheriff Willamson
Learn how to share the road with farm equipment and look out for those slower-moving agriculture machines.
Interview with Rob Braun
Join the Farm Stress Team as we interview Rob Braun, former Cincinnati TV News Anchor and now farmer in Kentucky. In this episode, we hear about Rob's journey to doing what he enjoys. Rob talks about the good and bad that come with farming and how he has overcame some challenges along the way. You won't want to miss this.
Global Farmer Resiliency with Tony Evangelo
Tony Evangelo with World Wide Sires talks about the Dairy Industry, global markets, impacts of foreign conflict and the overall resiliency that ties it all together. No matter where you go, Tony sees the community of farmers helping each other and overcoming challenges. World Wide Sires is a subsidiary of Select Sires.
https://wwsires.com/
https://www.selectsires.com/
Learning about ACEs with Dr. Carmen Jones
Dr. Carmen Jones explains the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how they affect physical, mental and social emotional health. Relating to the Ag Industry, we talk about how ACEs may affect farmers and farm families.
A Conversation with Bruce Kettler - Director of ISDA
Bruce Kettler, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture shares his experiences over 30 years in the ag industry. His experiences with stressful situations and how people react bring up good points and remind us to slow down and take a deep breath in a world that is primarily reactive to stress.
Playing the Hand You're Dealt with Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch
Lt. Governor of Indiana Suzanne Crouch shares her experiences with stress, her role in state agencies and how people perceive mental health. Her personal experiences combined with her position allow her to impact the lives of Hoosiers for the better.
The Stress of the Game
Susan Baughman talks about the experience of planning the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship held in Indianapolis. From growing up on a farm to running huge events, her insights on stress management create a unique perspective when applied to on-farm life.
Scott Mitchell Empties the Bucket
Abby and Bryan sit down with Scott Mitchell, the President and CEO at Sumitomo Chemical America Inc., Regional Headquarters Americas to discuss lifestyles, experiences, corporate agriculture and impacts on the well being of farmers as well as some of his personal experiences that got him where he is today.
Natural Disasters: Not Just In The Weather
Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist and managing editor for the climate unit for ABC News talks about her experiences with natural disasters of all kinds, both physical and mental. Her experiences with weather and the lack of control it brings helps her to understand her own mental health struggles and cope with the unpredictability of life. Ginger has authored two books that are now out for readers that focus on mental health; "Natural Disasters: I cover them, I am one" and "A Little Closer To Home: How I Found The Calm After The Storm".
A Place To Turn In Time Of Need - Farm Rescue
Farm Rescue is an organization providing harvest assistance for farmers who need help with planting or harvest. Visit farmrescue.org for more information, to donate or to voulnteer.
Just Ranchin' with Dale Brisby at National FFA Convention
Dale talks about how he copes with stress, finding peace in doing what he loves and his hopes for the future. Check out Dale Brisby online at dalebrisby.com follow him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. You can also watch his Netflix special "How To Be A Cowboy".
Overcoming Adversity - "Don't Ever Give Up"
There's not much in farming that Mike Wilson hasn't seen. From being a fifth generation farmer to working nearly 30 years in the Ag industry, Mike has seen his share of adversity. Mike share his stories of overcoming adversity, and how his experiences and people that helped him has inspired a career where he works to help farmers make their jobs easier and less stressful.
Navigating Food Safety Requirements and New Regulations
Purdue Extension Food Safety Educator talks about the numerous programs available to farmers for Food Safety support. From mock audits to readiness reviews (and more), Scott encourages growers to look into programs that can be customized for their farm. To learn about free and confidential programs designed to assist farmers with compliance to produce safety rules, visit safeproducein.com or ag.purdue.edu/extension/safeproduce.
ag.purdue.edu/extension/safeproduce
Preparing Leaders to Advance in Agriculture
Beth Archer, Executive Director of AgrIInstitute, shares how her organization is working to build the leadership capacity for adults in agriculture. Beth provides information about the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program and the upcoming collaboration with the Indiana Rural health Association and Purdue Extension, "Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives". For more information, please visit the AgrIInstitute website:
https://www.agriinstitute.org/
Using Technology to Connect With Mental Health Services While Maintaining Your Privacy
Nathaan Demers has lived and worked in small towns and rural areas, and knows keeping your privacy while seeking mental health services can be difficult. A Clinical Psychologist, Nathaan teamed up with technology professionals to create web-based mental health services that would be of high-quality and confidential. Mantherapy.org is a free, confidential site that a brief self-assessment and many resources that has been helpful to those that have tried it. Nathaan and his team are also working at creating new web-based services for veterans, first responders, and more. For more information, visit gritdigitalhealth.com. To give Man Therapy a try, click the link below:
Gene Marks Shares Information and Business Strategies That Could Improve the Profitability of Your Small Farm
Gene Marks @genemarks -- you have probably seen Gene as a regular contributor on Fox Business or read his articles in The Guardian, Washington Times, or Forbes. In this episode, Gene talks about business challenges such as working with employees from younger generations, if and when to outsource a function of your farm, areas of your business to consider investing additional resources into, coping with COVID-related restrictions, and his outlook on positive trends in agriculture.
Stick around for the entire information-packed episode, because at the 36 minute mark, Gene shares how current bills in congress (infrastructure bill, American Families Act, minimum wage increases, overtime rules changes, independent contractor classification changes, and more) will impact your small farm.