Farming doesn’t just work your body—it works your mind. And this year, it worked mine harder than I ever expected.
If you’ve wondered why things went quiet around here, the truth is simple: our mental health took a hit, and we had to step back before it broke us completely.
People often romanticize farming, but what they don’t see is the constant mental load. Every day is filled with decisions—weather, pests, pricing, markets, money—and there is no off switch. Even when you sleep, your mind is still in the field. Trying to do everything “right” takes a toll that few people talk about.
As the season progressed, the pressure became overwhelming. Long days, little sleep, mounting expenses, and the realization that all the hard work might not be enough. Standing in the field one day, Henry started crying. I had already been crying for weeks. We were exhausted—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally.
That’s when I realized how deep I was sinking.
I felt like I had failed—my son, our farm, our future. The depression hit suddenly, and it hit hard. We stopped filming not because we didn’t care, but because we had nothing left to give.
Farmers are taught to push through no matter the cost. But the truth is, farming can break you mentally if you don’t acknowledge what it’s doing to you. When the rain stopped and the drought came, the losses felt final—financially and emotionally. I grieved the season and the dream we had worked so hard to build.
This is the part no one talks about.
If you’re a farmer feeling overwhelmed, defeated, or hopeless, please reach out—to family, to a doctor, to someone you trust. Your life matters more than any crop or season.
If you’re a consumer, I ask you to remember there are real people behind your food. Supporting farmers isn’t just about buying local—it’s about understanding the human cost.
I share this not for sympathy, but for honesty. We’re still here, still learning, and learning the hard way that taking care of our mental health isn’t optional—it’s essential.
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