The last few years have been difficult for farm and ranch families. Many are experiencing financial and emotional stress as a result. There are several signs or symptoms when a farm family may be in need of help. These are signs that can be observed by friends, extended family members, neighbors, milk haulers, veterinarians, clergy persons, school personnel, or health and human services workers.

When family members, friends or neighbors are exhibiting signs of stress and depression, it is important they be connected with help as soon as possible. All cries for help should be taken seriously.

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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Roger holds down a job in town to supplement income from the family ranch. He is up before everyone else in the house on most days, and his schedule and lack of adequate sleep often have him feeling as if he does morning chores in a stupor. Although he is able to recognize stress signals, Roger sometimes feels powerless to address them. “There just isn’t any extra time in my day,” he says.

Practicing relaxation may seem too time-consuming or even like a waste of time for many ranchers and farmers. But in the overall scheme of things, the benefits will make you more effective throughout each day.

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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Rushing to town to buy spare parts, watching hay supplies dwindle during an unusually cold winter, helping a heifer live through a complicated birth—these images of agricultural life can be as familiar to producers as those of joyful times on the family land. That said, it may be hard to imagine the need for a resource that helps to identify and control stress on the ranch or farm. For many agricultural producers, however, these and other situations are so much a part of routine living that they are not readily identified as stressful.

Simply hiding the effects of stress is not always the best choice. It is much healthier to identify stress and find constructive ways to deal with it.

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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The image of the solid and steady agricultural producer is so familiar that it may even be considered a symbol of the West. One animal is sick, and disease may be spreading; cattle prices are falling just as it is time to ship; a storm front is moving toward the property—but this producer can handle it. It is “just part of the agricultural way of life.”

But what happens when life’s circumstances interfere with the image presented to the rest of the world?

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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Losing a limb, death, divorce, or losing the farm or ranch shapes the lives of ranchers and farmers in long and lasting ways. Much of the study of people’s adaptation to traumatic events focuses on pain and suffering. But in the aftermath of adversity, people often show tenacity and resilience, eventually exhibiting personal growth. Major life crises can be catalysts for personal growth and coping.

Why do life crises lead to greater self-reliance, confidence, and effective coping in some people and yet shatter the lives of others?

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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“Where do cowboys go to cry?” When this question was raised at a recent stress management workshop, an immediate response was “They don’t, and they won’t.”

Although there are many ranch and farm men who seek help when facing personal challenges, there are also those who find it difficult and even refuse to seek help. Why?

Often, a traditional view of being male causes many men to hesitate to seek help from others. For example, some men are taught that masculine power, dominance, competition, and control are essential to proving one’s masculinity; that vulnerabilities, feelings, and emotions in men are signs of femininity and are to be avoided; that masculine control of self, others, and environment are essential for men to feel safe, secure, and comfortable; and that men seeking help and support from others is a sign of weakness, vulnerability, and potential incompetence.

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

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“Men would rather kill themselves than admit they are depressed.” This chilling statement illustrates the complexity of male depression.

Depression appears to take a greater toll on men. Although more women attempt suicide, more men actually succeed and commit suicide at four times the rate women do. A recent study found that depressed men were twice as likely as their non-depressed counterparts to develop heart disease or die suddenly because of heart problems.

AG LEGACY can help…
Check the AG LEGACY Materials tab for where to begin at AGLEGACY.org

#AGLEGACY.org #FarmSuccession #EstatePlanning

Coping mechanisms can help address or mitigate the effects of stress and reduce anxiety:
• Be aware of your strengths, skills and weaknesses;
• Practice time management and goal setting techniques;
• Involve yourself in hobbies and recreation outside the business;
• Use support systems; and
• Practice stress-management techniques.

One of the best coping strategies for managing intergenerational stressors is open communication, especially for farm or ranch families.

TO LEARN MORE see: AGLEGACY.org
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* Farm and ranch families experience stress from a wide variety of factors, including: 1. Operational stressors, 2. Environmental influences, and 3. Family stressors. Most factors are out of thefamilies’ control, potentially adding even more stress.
* Situations where money is tight represent another case that can lead to stress for both farm families and the agricultural business.
* One of the most stressful intergenerational farming issues reported is the transfer of the family farm or ranch to the next generation.

Stress factors can and often do affect everyone involved in the family farm or ranch business, even if they are not directly involved in day-to-day operations. See more at AgLegacy.org.

TO LEARN MORE see: AGLEGACY.org
#AGLEGACY.org #FarmSuccession #EstatePlanning