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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is partnering with three other state agencies and organizations to offer free virtual suicide prevention trainings for rural faith leaders in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Clergy and lay leaders who serve congregations of all faiths and denominations are welcome.

“We recognize that faith is an important element in the lives of many farm families,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Teaching suicide prevention and intervention skills to trusted community members like clergy can help provide more emotional support for farm and rural residents."

The four-week Suicide Prevention Skills for Rural Ministry trainings will pair an online curriculum from LivingWorks Faith with weekly discussion sessions held via Zoom so participants can deepen their learning in a pastoral context with their peers.

The trainings will teach faith leaders how to recognize and engage with someone who is having suicidal thoughts, connect that person to help, and support family and community members who have been affected by suicide. LivingWorks Director of Faith Community Engagement Glen Bloomstrom will facilitate the trainings with support from other team members.

The trainings will be offered during three different sessions starting April 16, April 18, and September 17. Interested participants must enroll for their preferred cohort by April 5, 2024, at www.mda.state.mn.us/clergytraining.

Program partners include Farm Well Wisconsin, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

Financial support for these trainings comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, under agreement number 2023-38640-39573 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC23-227. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

Minnesota partner organizations who serve meat and poultry processors are encouraged to apply for the Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant, a new funding opportunity available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

The intent of the Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant is to award one-time funding to partner organizations that will work with small- to medium-sized meat and poultry processors in hiring and training new employees through the development of incentive projects like tuition reimbursements, sign-on and retention bonuses, and childcare stipends.

Eligible partner organizations include foundations engaged in economic development, community development financial institutions, federally recognized economic development districts, and community development corporations.

The MDA anticipates awarding up to $544,000 in Train & Retain Grants using a competitive review process. The maximum award amount is $250,000, and the minimum award amount is $10,000. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026.

This grant program prioritizes partner organizations working in partnership with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; or whose efforts would target or serve meat or poultry processors that are owned by individuals in historically underserved communities, businesses that directly serve historically underserved communities, or individuals from historically underserved communities with interest in working in meat processing.

Grant applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, April 25, 2024. For further information and to submit your online application, visit the Meat Processing Train & Retain Grant web page.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us