Rural mental health workshop reminds farmers ‘It’s OK to not be OK’

Randy Roecker, FAN co-founder, panelist at the American Farm Bureau's Stronger Together 2021 Virtual Conference.

"Panelist Randy Roecker said he knows that pressure well. The Wisconsin dairyman owns the farm his grandfather started in the ‘30s. He has struggled with farm stress and depression himself, and discussed warning signs: withdrawn demeanor, unkempt appearance, weight loss, irritability and exhaustion.

“This is a subject we have to talk about,” Roecker said, discussing efforts in his community to combat the crisis. “It’s OK to not be OK.”