Completed Project Report


Improving Farm Goal Setting and Decision-making while Increasing Farm Mental Aptitude, Mindset Tactics, and Stress Resiliency

  • Award Amount: $50,000
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2020 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Larry Tranel
  • Email: tranel@iastate.edu
  • Organization: Iowa State University

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Project Overview

54% percent of Iowa dairy farmers surveyed reported their mental health concerns have become much more of a concern compared to 5 years ago, prompting educational programming in farm mental health.

In response, this project aimed to reduce risk by helping producers 1) set goals and make better decisions; 2) increase their farm mental health and resiliency towards farm stress; 3) increase their understanding of the grief process; 4) increase communication skills for better marital and family relationships; 5) design impact analysis of options to better their farm/family operation and 6) develop and implement written plans to reduce financial risk and increase relationship quality.

Thirty farm couples were assisted individually through farm couple getaways; 1,038 producers and/or family members, agri-business personnel; and multi-state Extension personnel participated in farm stress workshops or related activities. CO-VID prompted most sessions to be virtual.

Project participants showed a very significant increase in knowledge in a sample of measured outcomes: 1) How we think about stress (+1.77/84.62%; 2) Using higher reasoning mindset tactics to mitigate stress (+1.54/61.53%); 3) The difference of good stress and distress (+1.46/53.85%); and 4) Tools in the Farmer's Mental Health Toolbox (+1.73/76.28%)
Average Increases (+1.50/67.24%)

Number of Participants: 893

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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