by Karen Endres

Community is especially important in farming, as living and working in rural communities can feel isolating. Community can be defined many different ways, but in its simplest form, it is about connection. Community is about more than a group or organization. It is the feeling of belonging, being accepted, and having similar values and beliefs that have a positive effect on mental health and emotional well-being.

Karen Endres is the Farmer Wellness Program Coordinator at Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's Wisconsin Farm Center.

Quarterly Card Parties in Marathon County

Do you miss the good old days of playing cards at the kitchen table after milking? Do wish that you could play cards with a group of people again? Well, wish no longer and join Extension Marathon County at the Homestead Restaurant for an evening of card playing.

You can join Marathon County Extension's Quarterly Card Parties quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00PM at the Homestead Restaurant (162765 WI-52, Wausau, WI 54403).

Quarterly Farm Succession Peer Support Group

Are you going through a farm succession and need someone to talk to? Do you have questions on how others have or are completing their farm transition? Then this is the group for you. The Farm Succession Peer Support Group provides the space people need to talk about the farm succession process. There will be short presentations on topics relating to farm succession, followed by time to talk with others in the group.

You can join the Quarterly Farm Succession Peer Support Group quarterly on the second Monday of the month from 10:30AM-11:30AM via Zoom. Meeting months will be January, April, July, October

Online Farmer and Farm Couple Support Groups

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Wisconsin Farm Center offers a safe space to share farming challenges and obtain encouragement in their monthly online farmer support group. The group, open to any Wisconsin farmer or farm family member, is moderated by a licensed mental health provider with extensive experience in serving farmers and a farmer peer leader. The meetings are held virtually on Zoom so that participants can choose to turn on their camera or be anonymous by simply turning their cameras off and identifying by first name only.

You can join DATCP's Online Farmer and Farm Couple Support Groups every second Tuesday of the month at 8:00PM via Zoom.

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