I didn’t grow up in agriculture. My parents had a more typical schedule and I spent my summer vacation at the community pool. When I married into a multi-generational farming family, I stepped into a world that looked very different from the one I knew. Though our everyday lives didn’t look …

When we talk about boundaries in the agricultural sector, we are often talking about literal boundaries, as in fence or property lines. But did you know that boundaries can also mean talking about, employing and sharing your limits with the people around you to keep you physically and emotionally safe? …

What are you thankful for? It’s a question that often comes up at this time of year, especially as many of us gather with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table. While celebrating gratitude during the holiday season is a heart-warming tradition that can boost your spirits, practicing gratitude regularly …

Our Story Begins at the County FairFrom the woolly backs of sheep at our local county fair to the deep connections we’ve built on our family farm, our story runs deep with tradition. For my husband and I, it all started at that very county fair, where we met among …

My name is Erin and I am a grain farmer in northern Alberta. My husband and I live and farm alongside my parents. Our kids are the fifth generation to live on the homestead. I grew up living beside my grandparents, helping with the farm and garden, and it is …

Leadership is an important component of any business and leadership in agriculture is no different. Leaders on the farm or ranch must be able to guide their teams, strategically make plans, make difficult decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances often out of their control. Additionally, effective communication while problem-solving, managing …

Happy June fellow readers! I hope the crazy month of May has treated you well. It always seems likeMay is here and gone in a flash. As we transition from May into June, I want to reiterate the importance of mental health awareness. I think many people understand and pay …

May is the month where the flowers and trees are (hopefully) in full bloom, the weather is giving everyone a taste of what summer holds, and it hosts a day celebrating the mothers in our lives. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I will be writing (and perhaps bragging) the …

This blog entry contains material that could be of a sensitive nature including child loss, grief and a farm accident that may be triggering for some individualsTracey Cross-Childs remembers the day that grief enveloped her entire family as her precious son, Jamie, died on June 5th, 1997. She shares that …

The ability to deal with conflict is a rare skill. Humans are hardwired at birth for fight or flight that defaults to passive or aggressive behaviors. The ability to communicate through that conflict is a vital skill that even the best communicators can continually hone. Personally, I am far better …

Tis’ the season! The time of year when so many talk about their new year’s resolutions. For some, it excites them. They envision a new and better future for themselves and their operations. But for some, it is a time spent dwelling on what went wrong and the challenges that …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…The holiday season is upon us and with it comes many wonderful moments as well as busyness, high expectations we put on ourselves and gathering with family and friends. There are inevitably times where it is all just a little much.  Our bodies …

Have you had those nights where your body has been physically exhausted, but sleep escapes you? It might be worries about the market, the crops, the health of your livestock, or it may be random racing thoughts that have no tangible value but keep you awake. Sleep problems can include …

Many years ago, I went through a very difficult work experience and a colleague approached me, recognizing that I was struggling with my mental health. At first, I wanted to deny the struggle I was going through and worked harder at hiding it. The shame I felt made me want …

I’ve always been preferential to cats. Which is a good thing, considering how they seem to just show up at your door when you live in the country. We call her Snowy because we don’t know what she called herself before she adopted us. This morning, I found her curled …

If I come out and say whatever you do in the next minute, do not think about a white elephant, most of us will immediately think of a white elephant. The more we try not to think about something the higher probability that we will think about it (Winnerman, 2011).As …

Have you ever been told ‘it could be worse’ when talking about a problem you’re dealing with personally or on the farm? Sometimes it can feel like people are critical, judgmental, or just don’t get it. This can cause us to withdraw and isolate, which means we don’t get the …

Nourishing your brain is essential for the mental health of farmers. The brain requires energy (from food!), proper hydration and a variety of nutrients to function at its best. When your brain is nourished, you are better able to manage mood, focus and decision-making. Nutrition can enhance your resiliency when …

Have you ever felt ‘blah,’ neither good nor bad, just lacking in passion and motivation? Then you might have experienced something called languishing. Imagine that mental wellness exists on a spectrum: on one end is the state of ‘flourishing or thriving,’ the middle is ‘doing a-okay’ followed by languishing, and …

As the month of April is now upon us and May is fast approaching, we can start to feel the pressures of getting everything prepped and itching to get in the fields to prepare for planting. May is seen as one of the busiest months of the year for farmers. …

The myths we perpetuate in the world of agriculture come from a place of good intentions, but often lead to actions that can be damaging for our mental health. In this blog post we would like to tackle some of the myths that are prevalent in agriculture. The farm comes firstThe …

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘informed’ as ‘to have or possess knowledge, to be educated, or knowledgeable’. Some synonyms of ‘informed’ are enlightened and illuminated. In the medical field ‘informed’ is often paired with ‘consent’ – which is considered to mean that someone has all of the information and knowledge to …

As we enter the new year and recover from the holidays, I’m recognizing the value of bothconsistency and change in children’s lives. Although the kids love the holidays, it is also a periodof dysregulation. All their schedules were disrupted, and they weren’t eating all the “right”things. This is all ok! …

The season of Christmas is traditionally a time filled with joy, gatherings, gifts and celebrations.  However, when you are in a season of grief this can, understandably, be a very difficult season.  The most well-known form of grief is the one we talk about when we refer to having lost …

Farmers carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. They have endless stresses and pressures and are often navigating things not in their control like commodity prices, the weather, and livestock health. We also deal with other life challenges like losses and grief, changes and transitions, and parenting and …

If you’ve ever been told that you “can’t open the dill pickles yet – they won’t be ready”, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Sometimes, there are different levels of “readiness”. Of course, you could open the dill pickles – it’s just that they won’t be at their best. They’ll …

As we near the end of summer, big things are starting to happen. Between local county fairs, making hay, kids starting school and preparing for harvest season– life is about to get pretty busy.It is no secret during this time of year we prioritize what needs to happen versus what …

Our StoryIn 1995 we (Al & Diane) began farming, full of hope and ambition after a rewarding stint in the Canadian Air Force. Landing on the farm that was situated neatly between the farms of both of our parents in Shetland Ontario, we were able to get a healthy start …

In the hours and days when it’s dry enough, between the periods of rain that have seemed more frequent and of longer duration than last year, i weed and till my garden plot and try to get beans and lettuces and cucumbers planted. Over coffee breaks at work, my colleagues …

Imagine that your home and farm— the essence of your work and family– were all destroyed by a tornado. This was the reality that Rebecca Simon and her family faced and had to find their way through. They are not alone, countless farmers have had to overcome devastating losses, injuries, …

Where to Turn?Farming is hard. We have no control over the weather, no control over our input costs, and little control over the final price received. Sometimes our industriousness is lost on those that utilize the products we determinedly and diligently produce. Farmers are more likely to experience chronic stress …