NY FarmNet: Preserving More Than Just Farms
By: Jillian Samolewicz
Running a farm, no matter the size, requires more work than many people realize. While it is important to maintain land, equipment, livestock and crops, there is one aspect of farming that is often overlooked. Mental health in the agricultural industry carries a stigma in which asking for help is viewed as weak. Although farms need to be preserved, so do people. This is the purpose of NY FarmNet.
In 1986, Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) formed NY FarmNet to help provide business-focused and health-related resources to farmers, helping them better navigate the challenges of their work. The organization offers its free services to those working in agriculture all throughout New York.
FarmNet’s Stated Mission
“We help New York State farms navigate times of transition, opportunity, and challenge. We accomplish our mission through educational programming and holistic consulting that addresses financial, family, and social stress.”
Adam Howell, outreach director of NY FarmNet, explained the importance of the program and how their work impacts others. Originally from Central Illinois, he grew up around farming with many of his friends and family working in agriculture. Although Adam is not a farmer himself, his personal connection to rural communities is a major reason he is passionate about NY FarmNet. Throughout his career, he has developed the philosophy that prevention and preparation can make people more resilient when challenges eventually arise. Adam stated, “Farmers are really good at dealing with all kinds of different issues related to the business of farming But they have to start thinking of their mental health and their physical wellness and all of the things in between as being just as important as maintaining their equipment, keeping an eye on their soil health, or ensuring their animals are taken care of.”
Photo of Adam Howell
As an advocate for those who work on farms, Adam enjoys working for a program that helps families successfully transition from one generation to another, restoring hope and helping people become healthier. He and his coworkers live near the communities they serve, allowing them to attend more than 100 events throughout New York each year in which NY FarmNet consultants meet people within the agricultural community and connect them with resources. This is crucial for the organization as it allows them to build and maintain relationships that can last for decades. In fact, NY FarmNet has worked with multiple generations of the same families over the past 40 years. It has also formed various community partnerships with organizations including our very own Rural Minds, the Cornell Cooperative Extension system, county farm bureaus and other local community organizations.
Rural Minds founder and CEO Jeff Winton, an alumnus of CALS and a board member of NY FarmNet, emphasized NY FarmNet’s enormous value. “As both a board member and consumer of their services, I have seen first-hand the unique benefits that NY FarmNet has provided over the past 40 years since they were established by Cornell. NY FarmNet has helped my family farm plan for the future, including developing a transition plan that will allow the next generation to continue operating our family farm. As I travel across America and internationally for Rural Minds, I frequently talk about NY FarmNet and the services it provides to farmers and others who are involved in agriculture in New York. Since this is a one-of-a-kind service available only in New York, I inevitably have people in other states and countries ask me how they can learn more about NY FarmNet. It makes me very proud.“
Adam stated, “Our relationship with Rural Minds has been extremely positive because we know that rural communities are usually agricultural, and agricultural communities are usually rural. The advocacy and national focus of Rural Minds is a wonderful asset to draw on for learning how the rest of the country addresses critical issues related to rural mental health support. We are especially grateful to founder Jeff Winton for his continued participation in our ongoing mental health awareness campaigns for New York state farmers such as our ‘Talk Saves Lives’ speaking series and our ‘Survivors of Suicide Loss’ discussion panels.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, NY FarmNet has become a cornerstone organization for New York’s agricultural community. People have reached out from around the world and across the nation to learn about the program’s unique model of support,
Greg Mruk, executive director of NY FarmNet, stated, “The greatest legacy for FarmNet would be creating a culture within agriculture where seeking help is viewed as a strength, not a weakness. Ideally, NY FarmNet would be remembered for helping generations of farm families remain resilient, preserving farms that might otherwise have been lost and ensuring that no farmer faces personal, financial, or emotional challenges alone. Success would mean that FarmNet's influence extends beyond individual cases, fostering healthier families, stronger rural communities, and a lasting support network that continues to sustain New York agriculture for decades to come.”
Changing the culture around seeking support is a big goal, as NY FarmNet hopes to serve as a model for other organizations around the country and world.
About the Author
Jillian Samolewicz is a public relations and advertising major at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She currently interns at Rural Minds and has previous experience in social media and public relations. After graduation, Jillian aims to pursue a career in healthcare public relations, using communication to advocate for others.