About the Community Spotlight:
We know that conversations about mental health in agriculture are most powerful when they come from within the community itself — from the people who live it every day.
Through our Community Spotlight series, we’re sharing the voices of our We Talk. We Grow. Champions and Ambassadors: individuals who are helping break the silence and make space for meaningful conversations around mental wellness on and off the farm.
In this edition, we’re featuring We Talk. We Grow. Champion, David Meister (to learn more about our We Talk. We Grow. Champions, click here).
Can you tell us about your connection to agriculture — whether you’re farming or supporting farmers — and what inspired you to get involved in the industry?
I’ve been in agriculture most of my life. I’ve grown up on a 5th generation cattle farm (I am 6th generation) and after about 10 years away from it with university and working in a corporate role in Calgary, my wife and I returned to work with my family on the family farm. We felt we were missing a connection to nature and our food sources and wanted to get back to our farm roots (my wife is also from a farm).
Why do you think mental health is such an important topic in the farming community?
Mental wellness is so important in the farming community because although there are so many amazing things about working in farming, there are many stressors that can cause harm to a farmer’s mental wellness, like financial, weather related or work-related burnout. Sadly, in the previous 5 generations on our farm, this was not recognized.
Is there a moment or season that challenged you the most? How did you get through it?
Any extreme weather event causes significant stress as it can cause damage that may be costly or hard to repair. We try and stay positive and realize we have gotten through a lot already
How do you think farmers and their support networks can better support each other?
Normalize “check-ins” through casual conversation, share personal stories when appropriate, buddy up for mutual accountability, lead by example with small breaks or boundary-setting, start conversations about farm stress as a safety issue.
What’s one small thing you do to take care of your mental health on a regular basis?
Schedule a non-negotiable check-in with yourself, even if it’s just 5 minutes.
This could look like:
- Sitting quietly for 5 minutes at the same time each day (e.g., after breakfast, before bed)
- Asking yourself: “How’s my body? How’s my mind? What do I need right now?”
- Or simply doing a mindful scan of how you’re feeling physically and emotionally
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone — whether they’re a farmer or supporting farmers — who’s struggling?
Prioritize micro-restoration through purposeful transitions between roles and spaces which could include:
- Taking 5 deep breaths while standing at the gate before leaving the barn
- Washing hands slowly and mindfully after chores, focusing on the sensation of the water
- Sitting on the tractor a few extra seconds with the engine off to reflect before heading inside
See you next time!
Stay tuned for more stories in our Community Spotlight series, and if their words resonated with you, consider sharing this blog post with someone who might need to hear it.
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