September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Unfortunately, suicide is an issue that is not unfamiliar in rural America. In the U.S., suicide rates among folks living in rural areas are 64 to 68 % higher than those in large urban areas. On this podcast, our CEO Chandler Goule shares his personal story about and explores ways we can combat the stigma surrounding mental health in rural America. Farm Credit Council’s CEO Todd Van Hoose gives an update on the state of the farm credit system and its impact on farmers. We also got an update from U.S. Custom Harvesters Treasurer Mychal Neumiller on how the wheat harvest went this year. If you or a loved one is dealing with depression, anxiety, substance issues, or other mental wellness concerns, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Contact the 988 lifeline by dialing 988 or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at www.afsp.org or our partner at Rural Minds at ruralminds.org.
The July/August podcast dives into the importance of Southeast Washington’s Lower Snake River Dams. This podcast includes conversations with Michelle Hennings, Executive Director of the Washinton Association of Wheat Growers, Congressman Dan Newhouse, Representative for Washington’s 4th Congressional District, and Jack Long, NAWG’s Government Relations Representative.
The June podcast focuses on the farm bill fly-in NAWG hosted in Washington, D.C., and the National Wheat Foundation’s annual wheat farm tour. This podcast includes discussions with NAWG President Keeff Felty, NAWG Treasurer Jamie Kress, NAWG Secretary Nathan Keane, Maryland farmer Eric Spates, Kentucky farmer and NWF Chairman Bernard Peterson, and NAWG Vice President Pat Clements.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the May podcast focuses on how we can tackle the mental health crisis in rural America. We spoke with Jeff Winton, President and Chairman of Rural Minds, and Nathan Lawson, Kentucky producer and mental health advocate. We also got an update from our IPP member Syngenta on their latest developments on getting hybrid wheat to market.