MORRIS, Ill. – As farmers throughout Grundy, Kankakee, and Kendall Counties work diligently to bring in another harvest, University of Illinois Extension and the Kendall-Grundy and Kankakee Farm Bureaus says thank you. Youth and volunteers, supported by both organizations, devoted time during National Thank a Farmer weekend to say “thank you” to farmers who might be facing a stressful time of year.
“Our support a farmer event is a great opportunity for us to come together and allow 4-H’ers to express their gratitude to the farmers who are the foundation of this community,” says Brooke Katcher, 4-H recruitment and engagement program coordinator, “now in it’s third year, the event is a major highlight for our youth and I know that a lot of joy and love went into each bag that the 4-H members put together.”
The campaign was bookended with events held Monday at the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau building and Saturday in Cabery, resulting in over 650+ bags consisting of snacks, homemade baked goods, and more, all with a message of support for the community agricultural professionals that work hard to feed the County.
According to Lindsay Mahoney, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau programming and Ag in the Classroom coordinator, the event helps shine a spotlight on an important industry: “Many people don’t realize how much we rely on agriculture professionals in our everyday lives. From food and fiber, to fuel, farmers are one of the reasons we can live the lives we do.”
“2024 has been a rough year on the farm for many due to a wet planting season. It’s a positive that we can end the year with a smooth harvest with nearly a third of all corn and almost half of all soybeans harvested throughout the state.”
Supporting farmers, especially coming off a stressful year, is as easy as being more aware during harvest according to Mahoney: “simply having patience when encountering farm machinery will go a long way. During this season, you will see an increase in slow moving traffic – Giving some space and slowing down when encountering these situations will mean farmers don’t have to worry about their safety and can instead focus on bringing in the harvest.”
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Resources to help support the farmer in your life are available online from both the Farm Bureau and Illinois Extension.
For resources from Illinois Extension, including information on market prices, cash rent, farm documents, and access to experts, visit extension.illinois.edu.
According to Mahoney and Katcher, the fast paced, high stakes time of harvest can be a particularly stressful time for agricultural professionals. According to the American Farm Bureau, studies have shown that suicide rates among farmers are 2-5x higher than the national average. Stress and mental health in general are a major concern – with issues ranging from market fluctuations, extreme weather, isolation, financial uncertainty, and extreme situations all being major stressors.
“Whether it be stressors from an uncertain year or physical concerns, it’s important for ag professionals to put themselves first,” says Mahoney, “always wear a harness and work with others in grain bins, use appropriate safety props when working under machinery, get enough sleep, and reach out to others for help. Staying safe during harvest means taking precautions and reaching out when you need help.”
If you or someone you know is dealing with the stress of harvest, help is available. Please visit farmstress.org for free resources. More information on farm stress including information on free mental health vouchers for agricultural producers and their families, can be found at extension.illinois.edu/health/farm-mental-health.
“Thanking farmers and giving our working professionals a much needed break is a great way for our youth to give back,” says Katcher, “We even had one gentleman who said he forgot to pack lunch and we showed up at just the right time.”
For more information on the 4-H program, please visit 4h.extension.illinois.edu. Information on the Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau can be found online at kendallgrundyfb.com. Information on the Kankakee Farm Bureau can be found online or by calling (815) 932-7471.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, Communications & Marketing Coordinator
SOURCE: Brooke Katcher, 4-H Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator; Lindsay Mahoney, Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau Programming and Ag in the Classroom Coordinator
PHOTO ACCESS: The photos in this article are available to download for media use.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
About Illinois Farm Bureau: Farm Bureau is a grassroots volunteer organization striving to promote agriculture through education, legislation and community involvement. Farm Bureau serves both rural and urban populations who are interested in the well-being of agriculture and rural communities.