FFRI Podcast

Welcome to the Farm Family Resource Initiative Podcast, where we explore the mental health issues that farmers and their families face. This podcast is the first season of a series that aims to provide resources and support to rural communities.  It features in-depth discussions about topics that impact the well-being of farmers and farm families. Join us as we take a look at the challenges facing rural America.

Find us on Spotify to get updated every time a new episode comes out.

Adrienne DeSutter is part of her husband's fourth-generation farm family in Midwest Illinois. They farm corn and soybeans, with a small herd of cattle and a small herd of children. With a Master’s degree in Counseling (and a self-proclaimed Master's in Farm Family Chaos), Adrienne recognized a need for mental health advocacy in agriculture. She began partnering with Ag businesses and organizations to promote healthy minds and prevent farmer suicide.

What makes a farmer great? Toughness. What also gets in the way of being greater? Toughness. Listen to this quick chat on the good, the bad, and the ugly on “toughing it out.”

Struggling with stress, and not sure what to do about it? Trying to think of ways to help someone you’re worried about? Here’s an introduction to the various mental health resources available for agriculturists.

There are countless ways to keep your stress in check. Tune in to discover how simply being kind can improve your mental health. 

Determination, self-reliant, hard-working: all words to describe a successful farmer. But when does the drive to succeed turn from helpful to harmful? Join us in discussing how the nonstop lifestyle of a farmer can create stress for the entire family, and how a few simple tools can help slow the "busy!"

       
The truth about time: Juggling the work/home balance of Farm Families.