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Healing in the Heartland

  • Edward J Sheldon
  • August 9, 2019

Mental health issues are impacting our agricultural and rural communities each and every day. Increased understanding of the impact, resources and ways to overcome this impact is needed. Together, we must seek to be better informed and discover solutions to support our farm families and rural communities. We can do more to engage and advocate to restore health and hope in the Heartland.

The goal for the September 10, 2019 program is to increase awareness of the importance of addressing mental health issues, understand the impact of stress factors and identify ways to support at risk individuals.  Our hope is to elevate the importance of the need for easily accessible resources to support agricultural and rural communities. 

This symposium is being planned and coordinated by ALP Class 18 members:  Meggie Foster, CountryMark; Jackie Barber, Elanco; Somula Schwoeppe, Feeding America and Schwoeppe Dairy; Sarah Wagler, Nutrient Management Partners; Jeff Cummins, ISDA and Kyle Shipman, Indiana Board of Animal Health in coordination with AgrIInstitute.

Registration and more details are available at: www.healingtheheartland.org

AGENDA

8:00 a.m.     Registration and Trade Show Open

          Morning Program 

9:00 a.m.     Welcome and Opening Remarks

  •   Mental Health in Indiana: The Rural Landscape
  •   Agriculture Stakeholders: Challenges, Retrospect and Opportunity       

          Keynote: “Help for Farmers in the Heartland”

Michael Rosmann

 a farmer and psychologist from Harlan, Iowa. He obtained his BA in psychology from the University of Colorado and his MS and PhD degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Utah.  His professional work has contributed to the understanding of why people farm, their unique behavioral health issues, and why suicide is unusually common among farmers.  He writes a weekly column, “Farm and Ranch Life,” which is syndicated in 31 agricultural and rural newspapers; he has written an awardinning book, Excellent Joy: Fishing, Farming, Hunting, and Psychology.  He is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa.   

12 :00 p.m.    Lunch & Discussion Groups

1:30  p.m.     Afternoon Program

  • Support, Survive and Thrive: Building Back Resiliency in Our Rural Communities       
  • Closing Thoughts – Dr. Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian

4:00 p.m.     Trade Show Closes

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