The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and a broad coalition of farm, food and commodity organizations, including the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC), have been honored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota for their collaborative work to support farmer mental health and promote suicide prevention efforts in agricultural communities.

The MDA’s Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign received the 2026 NAMI Minnesota Impact Award at the organization’s annual conference Friday, Nov. 6 in Waite Park.

Launched during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2026, the campaign encourages people to seek help and teaches others how to recognize and respond to signs of distress.

“We are so blessed to have such an awesome department of agriculture. The Council was 100% behind doing this mental health awareness program; it was very timely and proactive of MDA to reach out to the Council and other ag organizations for our support,” MSR&PC Chair Gail Donkers said. “We know the ag economy is tough right now – especially with added fuel charges going into harvest, because we all burn a lot of fuel. It’s not something we can go without, and our job as a board is offer as much help and support to save every farmer possible.”

The NAMI Minnesota Impact Award recognizes individuals, initiatives, services and organizations making a significant impact on mental health in Minnesota by championing the services, resources and systems that children, adults, and families need to thrive.

“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.”

Currently, farmers are facing economic challenges not seen in decades. These pressures, coupled with farmer suicide rates estimated to be 3.5 times higher than the general population, underscore the need to talk more openly about stress and mental health in agriculture.

“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.”

“The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign recognizes these realities and brings people together around a cause that deserves far greater attention. We are proud to recognize this timely, culturally responsive, and collaborative effort with our NAMI Minnesota Impact Award. It demonstrates what is possible when we meet communities where they are and work together to address disparities in mental health care and suicide prevention.”

Along with MSR&PC, Minnesota 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 State Cattlemen’s Association
• Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council
• Second Harvest Heartland
• University of Minnesota Extension

Fifteen fall workshops in agricultural communities taught more than 170 farmers, farm family members, and others who interact with farmers the skills they need to help keep a suicidal person safe. The campaign also ran 30-second radio spots during planting and harvest seasons on more than 150 AM/FM radio stations throughout Minnesota, as well as sponsored posts on social media.

Messages highlighted the higher-than-average risk of suicide that farmers and ranchers face and ways farmers who are struggling can seek effective, nonjudgmental help – such as calling or texting 988 or reaching out to the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670. The campaign also offered tips to family members and others who are concerned, but don’t quite know how to help.

The effort was created by a steering team that included MDA staff, agricultural mental health providers, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Program, NAMI Minnesota, University of Minnesota Extension, First Call for Help, and Lake Benton farmer and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Director Bob Worth.

“Getting help if you have anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts is really no different than going to the doctor about heart trouble or high blood sugar,” said Worth, who’s spoken with local, state and national groups on the importance of rural mental wellness. “We’ve got to let people know that getting help helps.” 

As part of its policy priorities, MSGA also works with legislators and agencies in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., to support more resources for rural mental health.

“Mental health is no different than any other disease you can have,” said Worth, who also sits on the American Soybean Association. “Because it is a disease, it is something that can be cured with medication or therapy. People have to start talking about it and saying that it is OK to talk about it.” 

Additional information on the campaign, as well as agricultural mental health, stress, financial resources, and other information, is available on the MDA’s Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign webpage.

The Council’s checkoff support continues to help raise awareness around mental health and keeping a close eye on friends and family for signs of depression, Donkers said.

“If we can save one farmer, then it’s worth it to me,” she said. “Mental health needs to be in our forefront every day, not just seasonally.”

NAMI Minnesota is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. For over 40 years, NAMI Minnesota has worked to promote the development of community mental health programs and services, change public attitudes about mental illnesses, improve access to services and increase opportunities for recovery.