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May is a season of momentum in agriculture. Calves are hitting the ground, wheat is growing, hay season is around the corner and long days are becoming the norm. It's also a reminder that while the work never slows down, neither should the importance of taking care of yourself. May is National Beef Month: A time to celebrate the cattle industry, the families behind it and the dedication it takes to feed the country. Agriculture runs on resilience, but even the toughest people

Farmers and ranchers spend a great deal of time in the sun. Sunshine is good for us! It helps with vitamin D production and can help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, but sun exposure has risks too. Too much sun exposure can cause skin damage and skin cancer. Farmers and ranchers are at risk of sun damage and should protect their skin, check their skin, and seek yearly care for their skin. Below are ways to do this- Ways to precent skin damage and skin cancer includ

These days we hear a great deal about stress. Stress is unavoidable for most people. Learning how to recognize the symptoms of stress and learning how to manage those symptoms before they take a toll on us or a family member is important. Symptoms of stress can look different for every person: · Overeating or not eating well · Headaches · Sleeping too much or having difficulty sleeping · Chest pain or palpitations · Muscle tension · Fatigue Comba

April in agriculture is a season of momentum—planters rolling, calves hitting the ground, grass greening up. It’s a time of optimism... but also one of the most mentally demanding stretches of the year. Long days, tight weather windows, input costs and pressure to "get it right" can quietly stack up. So, as the season ramps up, here's a few reminders: Take care of the operator, not just the operation. You are the most important asset on your place. When stress builds, it impa

March feels different out here. The calendar may still say winter, and chore time can still start in the dark with a north wind in your face, but you can tell something’s changing. The days are getting longer. The sun sticks around after supper. The ice in the tanks doesn’t fight quite as hard. The grip of winter is loosening. In agriculture, we live by seasons. We understand better than most that nothing stays frozen forever. Winter can be a tough stretch — physically and me

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. March is also a great time to prepare your gardens and plant some gut-healthy vegetables. We started off this year setting goals to keep us healthy. Gardening is great exercise, mentally relaxing and a healthy food source. If you are a new gardener, container gardening is a great place to start. Your local garden center, hardware store and the internet can be great resources for getting started. Colorectal Health: Colore

There are important things to discuss this month…and I don’t just mean the special date night that you should be planning for that someone special…but rather, discussing that beating heart that works hard every day. Are you taking care of it? Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. There are a few things I would encourage you all to do to keep hearts healthy: You’ve heard it before, but it remains my number one thing to do: eat a healthy diet (like the MAS

February 2026 February on the farm or ranch is a grind. Cold starts, frozen equipment, tight margins and long days with no real break. Most ag men were raised to handle it -- fix what's broken, don't complain, keep going. that toughness is part of what keeps agriculture alive. But even the strongest operations need maintenance. Mental and physical health go hand in hand, just like land and livestock. Long hours, stress over weather and markets, and carrying the weight of fami

January 2026 As we step into 2026, the rural agricultural community stands where it always has - rooted in resilience, faith and hard-earned wisdom. The work you do matters deeply, not just to markets and tables, but to families, communities and the land itself. Through changing seasons, tight margins and uncertain forecasts, your commitment continues to shape the future of agriculture and rural America. ​ It's important to acknowledge that the weight of this work can take a

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Drinking alcohol is often linked with positive associations: social occasions, enjoying celebrations and relaxation. But drinking alcohol can become problematic when we use it to manage our moods or feelings or to increase our social confidence. Social drinking can be pleasurable, and moderate drinking may even have health benefits for some of us. However, drinking also has some potential downsides. Although it can feel as though alcohol initially acts as a mood-enhancer, i

This video covers a simple breathing technique you can use almost anywhere to help cope with anxiety.

This video covers some basic information about anxiety and symptoms you might need to watch for when assessing the anxiety you might be experiencing.

Download the document below to assess your anxiety. Next, use this document to see your score.

Have you struggled to overcome an anxiety disorder only to get disappointing results—or even feel worse over time? If so, you’re likely being fooled by the “Anxiety Trick.” The Anxiety Trick is behind most of the trouble people have with chronic anxiety. It is a very common occurrence and people mistakenly blame themselves for it. Here’s a more accurate and helpful way to understand this frustrating problem. You Experience Discomfort and Get Fooled into Treating It Like Dan

What is Anxiety? Anxiety is a normal emotional and physiological response to feeling threatened, ranging from mild uneasiness and worry to severe panic. It is not unusual to feel anxious when in a stressful situation. Not all anxiety is negative. It can be exciting or invigorating, helping to motivate us to get things done. However, if anxiety becomes too severe or chronic, it can be debilitating. We experience anxiety in different ways: Psychologically: Fear, nervousness, no

This video covers some tips on how to manage depression and how to get unstuck.

This video covers some basic information about depression and symptoms you might need to watch for when assessing the depression you might be experiencing. It also covers some information on irritable depression that can be common in agriculture.

Download the document below and take the assessment. Next, download the scoring sheet to review your score.

We all experience fluctuations and changes in our mood. Experiencing periods of feeling "down" is a normal process and sometimes a natural reaction and response to circumstances. The distinction between feeling "down" and being depressed is linked to both the degree and duration. Depression frequently impacts our ability to engage with different areas of our life such as work, relationships and social activities. It can also have an impact on our self-esteem. Depression inclu