The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and a broad coalition of farm, food, and commodity organizations have been honored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota for their 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, the campaign encourages people to seek help and teaches others how to recognize and respond to signs of distress.
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.”
“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.”
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 Soybean Research & Promotion Council
- 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 agricultural leader Bob Worth.
Additional information on the campaign, as well as agricultural mental health, stress, financial resources, and other information, are available on the MDA’s Farm Suicide Prevention Campaign webpage.
NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit 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.
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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
