Sen. Baldwin hosts farmer mental health roundtable

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Brenda Statz’s husband was a fifth-generation farmer. In 2018, he committed suicide after having to sell their dairy herd to make ends meet. Circled around the kitchen table of a farmhouse in rural Sauk County, Statz told Sen. Tammy Baldwin about the struggles and solutions for supporting farmer mental health, despite the stigma and the stoicism found in the community

“He kept thinking he was a failure. ’I sold my cows. I’m not a farmer anymore,’” Statz said of her late husband. “Because that’s not what you choose. It’s who you are,” Statz said.

Over scones and coffee Statz recollected her husband’s words before his death. “‘My forefathers made it to through the Great Depression and I’m having to sell. Why?’”, Statz said. “Why?”, Statz repeated again to the quiet table.

The tragedy inspired the founding of Farmer Angel Network, a grassroots volunteer organization for farmers to support one another’s mental health and an initiative Baldwin hopes to see expand for other farmers.

The Statz family isn’t alone in their financial struggle, causing concern for how farmers will cope in difficult times. Last year, Wisconsin dairy farm closures hit a three-year high, putting increasing pressure on an already strained profession.

“The whole industry is broken,” Randy Roecker, a fellow farmer and founder of the Farmer Angel Network said at the roundtable. “We can talk about suicide and counseling and everything. The whole underlying cause of this is the rural economy.”

A range of ideas to better support farmers were shared as Baldwin took notes with pen and paper at the head of the table. Everything from better dairy profits to more informed mental health workers in rural areas to an overall better support system was requested.

“[We’re] trying to keep going, hoping for better times. That time never seems to come,” Roecker said.

“They keep saying six months. It’ll be six months. But it’s been two years plus,” Staz added.

Farmers are 3.5x more likely to commit suicide, according to the National Rural Health Association.

“Most farmers, their incomes are so low, that you get BadgerCare and food stamps and here you are producing food for 155 other people, but you’re on food stamps yourself,” Roecker said.

The Senator’s visit comes as election season is heating up in Wisconsin. Incumbent Baldwin and businessman Eric Hovde are vying for the same senate seat. In response to Baldwin’s roundtable, Ben Voelkel, a spokesperson for Hovde’s campaign, wrote in a statement, “Sen. Baldwin’s support for higher taxes and policies that have driven up inflation have made life harder for Wisconsin farm families.”

If you are having a difficult time, or a mental health crisis, free and confidential support is available. Just call or text 988. You may also use a chat feature at https://988lifeline.org/. The 988 Wisconsin Lifeline will connect you to trained counselors, right here in Wisconsin.

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