We were very grateful and honored to have Jeff Winton, the founder of Rural Minds, fly in personally to speak to us. This is a wonderful new organization created to “serve as an informed voice for mental health in rural America and provide mental health information and resources.” To learn more about the reason for its founding and find lots of resources, check out the website Ruralminds.org and be sure to watch the video there. We hope to cement a close relationship with Jeff and encourage programs in every Grange to combat the stigma of mental illness, depression and suicide in rural areas. The suicide rate is 25% higher in rural America than urban—a terrible statistic that we hope to assist in reducing.

As the National Grange continues to highlight issues affecting rural America, we have forged a partnership with Rural Minds, LLC to help make the National Grange’s voice on the Hill even stronger. Rural Minds is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and resources. Rural Minds collaborates with other organizations on initiatives to help end the silence, stigma, and suffering that surround mental illness.

Rural Minds Founder Jeff Winton sits down with Tigger and BEC to talk about a startling statistic - farmers and others in the ag trade had the highest suicide rate of all occupations – 3 1/2 times that of the general population

Rural Minds Founder and Chairman Jeff Winton was featured in news segments on rural radio stations across the U.S. The coverage coincided with National Rural Health Day on November 18, 2021. Jeff shared his personal story about the death by suicide of his nephew, Brooks, at Jeff’s family farm in rural upstate New York. This served as the tragic inspiration that led to Jeff establishing Rural Minds with the mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and services.

Jeff Winton shared the personal story of his family’s tragedy that led to Jeff establishing Rural Minds with the mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and services.

Jeff Winton discusses his family's decision to speak out and not remain silent about his nephew, Brooks' suicide, and how that decision led to the founding of Rural Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to serving as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and providing mental health information and resources.

Rural Minds™ launches today with a mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and resources. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit will also convey the importance of overcoming the stigma around mental health challenges.

Rural Minds™ launches with a mission to serve as the informed voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental health information and resources. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit will also convey the importance of overcoming the stigma around mental health challenges.

All families know pain and loss—and Rural Minds founder Jeff Winton eflects on how those experiences offer wisdom in the face of the many challenges of 2021.

Rural Minds founder responds to mental health struggles in agriculture: Dear Editor: My 28-year-old nephew, Brooks, was a multi-generational dairy farmer and father of 4-year-old twins. His death by suicide is a tragic and poignant indicator of a problem that is drastically increasing. My family is from upstate New York. I currently own a dairy farm and am the Founder and CEO of a communications firm working in the agricultural/ biotechnology/ pharmaceutical arenas. I find this article to be a needed and strong voice for advocates of rural mental health.