By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with a coalition of agricultural, food, and commodity organizations, has received the 2026 Impact Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota for its efforts to improve farmer mental health and strengthen suicide prevention in rural communities.
The award recognized the MDA's Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign during NAMI Minnesota's annual conference on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Waite Park. Launched in May during Mental Health Awareness Month, the initiative focuses on encouraging farmers and their families to seek mental health support while helping community members identify warning signs of emotional distress and respond appropriately.
The NAMI Minnesota Impact Award honors individuals, organizations, programs, and services that make meaningful contributions to mental health by expanding access to resources and support systems for individuals and families.
“We are honored to receive this award from NAMI Minnesota and thank our generous partners for helping to underwrite this suicide prevention campaign,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Every year brings its own challenges, and we all want to support the wellbeing of our farmers and their families. Each person is a valuable member of our agriculture community, and we don’t want anyone to suffer alone.”
NAMI Minnesota Executive Director Marcus Schmit emphasized that farmers face distinct pressures, including financial difficulties, concerns about losing family-owned farms, limited access to mental health services, and social stigma.
“Suicide prevention in rural communities requires an understanding of the unique challenges farmers and their families face,” said Marcus Schmit, NAMI Minnesota executive director. “For many farmers, their work is deeply connected to their family heritage, personal identity, and place in the community. Financial hardship, the potential loss of a family farm, limited access to mental health care, and stigma can create extraordinary pressures, yet these challenges are not always part of the broader conversation about suicide prevention.”
As part of the campaign, 15 workshops were conducted across agricultural communities during the fall, providing more than 170 farmers, family members, and agricultural professionals with skills to recognize suicide risks and help protect people experiencing a crisis.
The initiative also distributed 30-second radio advertisements through more than 150 AM/FM stations across Minnesota during planting and harvest seasons. Additional outreach included sponsored social media posts highlighting available mental health resources.
Farmers experiencing emotional distress were encouraged to call or text 988 or contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670 for confidential support.
Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign contributors include:
- Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
- Albert Lea Seed
- Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers
- Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council
- Minnesota Foundation for Agriculture
- Minnesota Grocers Association
- Minnesota Pork Producers Association
- Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council
- Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
- Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council
- Second Harvest Heartland
- University of Minnesota Extension
The campaign was developed through collaboration among MDA staff, agricultural mental health professionals, state health officials, NAMI Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension, First Call for Help, and Lake Benton farmer and agricultural leader Bob Worth.
Photo Credit: national-alliance-on-mental-illness
Categories: Minnesota, Business, General