Sponsored by Rural Mutual Insurance
Featuring Guest Insights from Dorothy Harms, Co-Founder of the Farmer Angel Network
The mantra around farm safety usually focuses on the physical hazards. The machinery, buildings, storage facilities, unpredictable animals or they physical toll the job takes. Physical hazards are only half the battle; mental health, stress management, and emotional well-being are equally vital to keeping our farm families and rural communities whole. This year the Mid-West Farm Report Network is focused on helping agricultural safety conversations expand beyond PTO shields, grain bin precautions, and slow-moving vehicle signs.
To dive deeper into the human side of farm safety, we sat down with Dorothy Harms, co-founder of the Farmer Angel Network, to discuss her personal journey, the evolving culture of rural mental wellness, and how local grassroots initiatives are changing lives across agricultural communities.
From Personal Loss to a Purpose-Driven Mission
The origins of the Farmer Angel Network started with real-life heartbreak and community resilience. For Dorothy Harms, the turning point came after she lived through her dairy farmer husbands suicide. They had recently gone through a herd dispersal, and Don struggled finding his identity. Who was he if he wasn’t a dairy farmer. That question and depression and anxiety it created ultimately led Don to take his own life. The tragedy didn’t end there for Dorothy. Next, it was the tragic loss of a neighbor.
“Leon had struggled for years with depression—something that even his close friends didn’t fully recognize,” Harms recalled. “When he passed, it became a immediate call to action. The community came together—our local church, public health, extension agents, and fellow farmers—and said, ‘We have to do something. We don’t know what it looks like yet, but we can’t do nothing.’”
What started as informal gatherings over soup and sandwiches drawing 40 to 60 people at a time, proved that rural neighbors were hungry for support, connection, and solutions. Out of that shared grief, the Farmer Angel Network was born.
Breaking the Stigma Around Rural Mental Health
For generations, agriculture has celebrated self-reliance, independence – being able to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps”. Obviously, that can make it very difficult for producers to ask for help when they’re feeling anxiety, depression, or burnout.
“In those early days, we had people driving two or more hours just to attend a meeting,” said Harms. “That spoke volumes about the stigma. People wanted help, but they were afraid to seek it in their own backyards where everyone knew them.”
While progress has been made over the last seven years, Harms emphasizes that the stigma around mental illness in farm country remains a persistent hurdle:
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Tackling Self-Medication: Financial pressures, unpredictable weather, and isolation lead many farmers to cope in silence or turn to substance use, including alcohol, to get through tough seasons.
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Reframing Mental Care: Seeking mental health care should carry no more stigma than visiting a doctor for a broken bone or calling a veterinarian for a sick cow.
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Meeting Farmers Where They Are: Rather than expecting farmers to attend traditional support groups, the Farmer Angel Network brings awareness to county fairs, pasture walks, and community parades to build trust and normalize conversations.
Expanding Access and Local Support Networks
What began as a localized effort in Sauk County, has grown. The Farmer Angel Network now has helped establish additional chapters in Western and Southwestern Wisconsin, with interest spreading to other states.
By partnering with organizations like the Wisconsin Farm Center, local Extension offices, and farm advocacy groups, the network helps route producers to tailored, confidential support services.
“When a farmer calls a crisis line, they need to talk to someone who understands what farm life is actually like,” Harms noted. “That context makes all the difference.”
Practical Steps to Support Farm Safety and Mental Wellness
Farm safety isn’t just an individual responsibility—it’s a community effort. Here is how neighbors, agribusinesses, and farm families can cultivate a safer, healthier agricultural community:
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Check in on Your Neighbors: A simple conversation over coffee or dropping by during harvest can alleviate the heavy burden of isolation.
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Recognize the Warning Signs: Changes in mood, withdrawal from social events, neglect of farm routines, or expressed feelings of hopelessness are clear signs someone may need help.
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Normalize Professional Help: Encourage loved ones to utilize specialized 24/7 agricultural hotlines and counseling vouchers designed specifically for farming families.
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Prioritize Physical and Mental Rest: Fatigue significantly increases the risk of farm equipment accidents. Taking time to sleep, eat well, and recharge is a non-negotiable safety practice.
