Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton recently joined host Peter Stockdale on the Spin Markket Report to discuss the founding of Rural Minds, the unique challenges farmers and rural Americans face, the impact Jeff has seen since its inception, and more.

Rural Minds, a local nonprofit organization focused on mental health in rural America, has recently launched a new program focused on connecting farmers to mental health resources.

The new program, known as the Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program, has been developed to provide farmers and their loved ones information on the importance of mental wellness. Carol Anderson with Rural Minds said other information includes what mental illness is, the types of mental illness and any resources for getting help, information and conversation starters.

 On February 4, 2026, the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus (CNC), in cooperation with the American Brain Coalition (ABC), American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), American Neurological Association (ANA), American Psychiatric Association, One Mind, Society for Neuroscience, The STARR Coalition, Bristol Myers Squibb, Neurocrine Biosciences, and Otsuka US, hosted a briefing highlighting the current neuroscience research that explains how mental health conditions develop, how stigma influences health outcomes, and what evidence-based strategies can effectively reduce societal and self-stigma.

Rural Minds Founder & Chairman, Jeff Winton, recently joined host Mike Rydell on The Crop Insurance Podcast.

“In this episode of the Crop Insurance Podcast, I’m joined by Jeff Winton, a dairy farmer and the founder/chairman of Rural Minds — a national nonprofit focused on improving mental health equity in rural America. Jeff shares the personal story that sparked Rural Minds, what he’s hearing across farm communities, and practical ways to start the conversation, reduce stigma, and connect people to real help.

Rural Minds VP of Communications Julie Lux was recently featured on a webinar hosted by the Caregiver Action Network: From Stigma to Support: A Caregiver’s Role in Mental Health Care & Substance Use Recovery.

“Stigma remains one of the most powerful—and painful—barriers for those navigating mental health and substance use challenges. This powerful conversation, hosted by Caregiver Action Network, features lived experiences and expert insights into how stigma impacts individuals, families, and entire communities—and what we can do to break the silence.”

In this episode, host Brandon Li sits down with Jeff Winton, founder of Rural Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for mental health services in rural America. Jeff shares his deeply personal story of how a family tragedy inspired the creation of Rural Minds and sheds light on the mental health crisis in rural communities, where stigma and lack of access to care create unique challenges.

Often times, rural communities are overlooked when it comes to addressing mental health. Whether it is proximity to care or a different mindset when it comes to mental health—mental illness affects every type of community. Our Facebook live will discuss topics addressing mental illness and the stigma around talking about it in rural communities. Matt Smith of PreventionFocus will be moderating a panel discussion including: • Connie Desmarais, Niagara County Community Collaborations Coordinator • Jeff Winton, Founder & Chairman, Rural Minds

Addressing Mental Health Care Issues in Rural America – Brownfield AgNews. From a weakening AG economy to financial instability, the stress factors that impact rural America are unique. Julie Lux with Rural Minds says the first step to addressing mental health in rural America is changing the mindset about mental illness.

Growing up on my family’s multigenerational dairy farm in Chautauqua County, I knew local residents struggling with mental illness in silence, but it did not hit home until my 28-year-old nephew, Brooks, died by suicide, leaving behind 3-year-old twins. My late mother, Elaine Winton, and I made a commitment to talk openly about this tragedy, which led to me founding Rural Minds, a national nonprofit organization. The mission is to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and resources.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has had his own mental health struggles since the passing of his wife, Bonnie, in 2020. Since then, Duvall has shared how he has worked through his grief and has become an advocate for mental health services in rural America.   Then, National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule, Jeanette Jeffrey with HomePorts, and Rural Minds founder and chairman Jeff Winton offer their thoughts on how to break the stigma around seeking out mental health resources in rural areas. 

The Rural Minds organization is working with established mental health nonprofits to bring resources to underserved rural communities. Founder Jeff Winton says 65% of counties in the United States do not have a practicing psychiatrist. Access to mental health care is a steep challenge to rural Americans in crisis. “Every 11 minutes, someone dies by suicide in America.” Jeff Winton, founder and chairman of the nonprofit organization Rural Minds, paused to let the number settle on the audience’s minds. He was speaking at the 2023 Cattlemen’s College last February.

Asked to picture rural America, most will conjure bucolic images of rolling hills, green meadows, and livestock peacefully grazing on pasture, dotted by the silhouettes of the hardworking, salt-of-the-Earth folks who work the countryside. These communities, however, conceal a darker secret. Having grown up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where the closest town was populated by a mere 500 people, I am a rural American. My firsthand perspective was shaped by living in a small community of industrious, independent, resilient people who were kind and quick to lend a hand.

Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton interviewed by NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen's Russell Nemetz. Normalizing conversations about mental illness and how to recognize the warning signs of mental illness among farmers and ranchers. In recent years, a number of organizations have started to focus more on mental health – and mental health resources – for people living in rural America. Jeff Winton, founder of Rural Minds, discusses some of the barriers that are unique to rural residents when it comes to seeking mental health services and how his company is helping to improve mental health resources in rural areas.

A not-for-profit is challenging the stigma surrounding mental health in rural America. Jeff Winton, a New York dairy farmer founded Rural Minds after his nephew died by suicide in 2012.  “People in rural America, including my family, were raised to believe we shouldn’t talk about our problems,” he says. He tells Brownfield the organization is partnering with several groups for outreach, including 4-H, FFA, and beginning farmers and ranchers.  “Younger people are much more open and willing to talk about difficult situations,” he says.

Cattle producers from across the country gathered in New Orleans, LA, for the 30th annual Cattlemen’s College, which was held prior to the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show. Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, is one of the cattle industry’s premier educational events and features live animal handling demonstrations and sessions with industry leaders tackling innovative topics… Another well attended breakout was “Are You Brave Enough to Attend This Session?” featuring Rural Minds founder Jeff Winton, who addressed the mental health crisis in rural America and provided solutions for producers to prioritize mental health, care for themselves and check in on neighbors. 

The new three-digit 988 number will make it easier for people in rural communities to access crisis intervention, Jeff Winton, founder and chairman of Rural Minds, a Maryville, New York, non-profit dedicated to helping rural residents with their mental health issues, told the Daily Yonder. “Mental illness and substance use disorder in rural areas have been growing exponentially even before Covid hit,” he said. “It’s not seen as an illness. It’s seen as a character flaw. It’s seen as something you should be able to just pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get over… And until such time that we get people to consider it an illness, we’re going to be hamstrung and this epidemic is going to continue to grow.”