Release Date: December 20, 2019
Media Contact: Rick Hummell, Public Information Officer, (608) 224-5041
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MADISON – Tough economic times in the agricultural sector
can take a toll on farm families, with increased stress associated with
financial challenges often leading to difficulties communicating and making
effective decisions.
To help Wisconsin farm couples learn about
stress management
techniques, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
(DATCP) and University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension are hosting a
series of six Farm Couples Weekend Workshops this winter.
Roger
Williams, a farm family communications consultant and DATCP Farm Center volunteer
mediator, will facilitate the sessions. Extension educators from the local
areas and Farm Center staff will be available to provide information about
other Extension and Farm Center programs and services.
“Farm
couples interested in learning about stress management techniques, improving
farm family communications and decision-making and goal-setting exercises
should consider attending a Farm Couples Weekend Workshop,” said Jayne Krull, bureau
director of DATCP’s Agriculture and Farm Center. “On many farms, farm couples
are part of a unique partnership in that both spouses are typically engaged in
the operation in some way, which makes this format especially effective.”
These
weekend workshops are designed to help farm couples:
Deal
more effectively with stress
Learn
about personality differences
Communicate
more effectively with each other and other family members
Make
plans for the future
Learn
about helpful resources in the community, including UW-Extension and DATCP
There is
no cost to attend. Refreshments, meals, lodging, instruction and materials will
be provided and financial assistance for childcare, farm labor or mileage may
be available. For more information about financial assistance, contact the Farm
Center at 800-942-2474.
The
schedule is as follows:
January
18/19, 2020 - Mineral Point
February
15/16, 2020 - Wausau
February
29/March 1, 2020 - Appleton
March
7/8, 2020 - Waupun
March
21/22, 2020 - Eau Claire
April
4/5, 2020 - Rice Lake
Pre-registration
and a $50/couple deposit is required, with the deposit refunded on the second
day of the weekend. Interested couples can reserve a spot by purchasing a
"ticket" at https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/farmstress/farmcouples/. If you
prefer to pay by check, you will need to register at the link and send your $50 check payable to UW CDP
to: UW Center for Dairy Profitability, c/o Jenny Vanderlin, 203 Taylor Hall,
427 Lorch St., Madison, WI 53706. Registration deadline is one week prior
to each weekend.
Each weekend
will be open to the first 10 couples who register and provide the refundable
deposit.
The weekend
begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with on-site check-in and ends Sunday at 3:00 pm.
For the
most up-to-date information, go to the Resilient Farms, Families, Businesses
and Communities website: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/farmstress/
The Wisconsin Farm Center, part of DATCP’s Division of
Agricultural Development, provides information and support to farmers and their
families. The Farm Center partners with industry groups, government and
educational entities and other stakeholders to provide services such as
financial and business consultation, farm succession planning, counseling
services, conflict mediation, and consultation related to production opportunities
and challenges.
The Governor’s 2019-21 biennial budget created an appropriation
of $100,000 each year to provide mental health assistance to farmers and farm
families. DATCP’s Farm Center is utilizing the funds to develop several new
farmer mental health initiatives, including the farm couples workshops and
other workshops for farmers and farm families starting early next year.
The appropriation also provided for continued funding of the
Farm Center’s program for confidential mental health counseling vouchers for
distressed farm families, as well as for training sessions and workshops for
counselors/peer facilitators dealing with farmers and farm families.
The workshops are partially funded by a CHS community giving
grant received by UW Madison Division of Extension.
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