It may sound like a cliché that life can change in an instant. However, my life did just that following the sudden death by suicide in September 2012 of my 28-year-old nephew Brooks Winton, a family man who adored his three-year-old twins.

THE IMPETUS FOR RURAL MINDS

Brooks was employed as a farmer and steelworker – jobs that have notably high rates of suicide. Brooks hid his personal issues behind an easygoing smile and an infectious laugh. His premature death occurred within days of his brother’s wedding. As I was leaving the reception, Brooks gave me a big hug and said, “Uncle Jeff, thank you for everything you have done for my family.” Brooks was always grateful for any show of support…so I didn’t realize this was his way of saying goodbye.

My name is Jeff Corle. I am a viral independent music artist with over 70 million streams and views. I’m also a professional keynote concert speaker and a farmer mental health advocate. But up until the spring of 2022 I was simply a full-time, fourth-generation dairy farmer loving my life milking cows on my family farm in the Laurel Mountains of western Pennsylvania. So how did this incredible life transformation of going from cows to country music come about?  Well, let me tell you . . .

We always milked between 40 and 50 cows on our farm. And as many of you know, that herd size makes it really hard to compete these days and stay in business, when we have a milk price that often times doesn’t even cover the cost of producing the milk.

A Webinar in Partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Suicide Prevention Center of New York State

• Understand and appreciate some of the unique challenges that the 46 million Americans in rural areas of our country face in accessing adequate mental health care.

• Learn about Rural Minds, including our mission, vision, and work across the United States.

• Specifically, we will highlight our several programs and partnerships in New York where we are headquartered.