Dairy Farmer and Rural Minds Founder Jeff Winton Leads Push on Mental Health after Family Tragedy - Lancaster Farming
Brooks Winton, late nephew of Rural Minds Founder & Chairman, Jeff Winton, with his 3-year-old twins in 2012, two weeks before he died by suicide.
Forty-eight hours in September 2012 contained one of a farming family’s happiest days and one of its most tragic.
Brooks Winton’s older brother, Toby, had just gotten married, and the extended family had gathered to celebrate.
Two days later, Brooks, 28, took his own life, leaving behind a wife and 3-year-old twins.
“He gave me a big hug as I was leaving the wedding reception and said, ‘Uncle Jeff, I just want you to know I so appreciate everything you’ve done for my family and me,’” said New York dairy farmer Jeff Winton.
“I didn’t think anything of it because he was a very grateful, very appreciative young man that always went out of his way to thank people for things,” Winton said. “But little did I know he was saying goodbye to me.”