Training & Support: Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset - Georgia Agriculture Wellness Alliance

Training & Support

GEORGIA HEALTHY FARMER MINDSET

Each month, the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance hosts the Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset monthly Zoom meeting, which focuses on topics related to stress and mental health in the agricultural community.

This Zoom meeting is held on the second Tuesday of each month at Noon.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

June 9: FVSU Extension Service: A Legacy and
Future of Service to Georgia’s Farmers
As one of Georgia’s two land-grant universities, Fort Valley State University has a long history of supporting the state’s agricultural community. Through its Extension Service, which serves producers in about 35 counties, the university provides education, outreach and resources to help Georgia farmers succeed. Learn more about FVSU’s legacy as a land-grant institution, the programs it offers to support producers and its role in the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance to advance the health, safety and well-being of farmers across the state.

Past Meetings

2026 Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset Recordings

APRIL 2026
Addiction and Recovery in a South Georgia Farm Community:
Stress on Georgia’s farmers and farm families is widespread. Some turn to alcohol or medications to cope with ongoing mental and physical strain. Resources within rural communities offer support for those seeking hope, healing and recovery. Learn how Gardens of Hope, a recovery community organization (RCO), and other RCOs support community members on the road to recovery.

Presenters: Jimbo Partin, CPS-AD, CARES, FPM,
Gardens Of Hope Recovery Community Organization, Executive Director || Jacqueline Siman, CADC-T, CPS-MH/AD, Leigh Anne White & Company, Youth Yoga Instructor || Jeff Breedlove, American Addiction Recovery Association, CEO

FEBRUARY 2026
Things to Come: Preview of the 2026 Farm Stress Summit
Join us for a preview of the annual Georgia Farm Stress Summit, to be held March 12, 2026, at the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center at Fort Valley State University. The summit will feature speakers and interactive sessions for anyone interested in supporting the mental health and well-being of Georgia’s farming and rural communities. To view the agenda and register, visit gafarmstress.org/stress-summit2026

Presenter: John McElveen, Ed.D., Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University School of Medicine, Director of The Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance

JANUARY 2026
Now Available in Georgia: A Mental Health Training for the Agricultural Community
Learn about COMET (Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory), a training that equips members of agricultural and rural communities to have effective conversations with friends, neighbors and family members. Designed by and for the agricultural community, COMET offers a simple, practical approach to confidently connecting others to hope and help.

Presenter: John McElveen, Ed.D., Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University School of Medicine, Director of The Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance

2025 Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset Recordings

DECEMBER 2025
AgrAbility: 20 Years of Enhancing the Success of Farmers and Farm Workers with Disabilities
Join us as we celebrate 20 years of the Georgia AgrAbility Project, which supports Georgia farmers, farmworkers, and veterans with resources, education, and on-site assistance that promote independence and improve quality of life.

Presenters: Tracey Pace, ThD, MSA, MEd, LPC, CFMHE, CFI, Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, President || William Carroll, PhD, MA, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, Ethics Chair || Sven Legg-Grady, EdS, NCC, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, Licensed Professional Counselor

NOVEMBER 2025
Georgia’s LPCA: Strengthening Behavioral Health Support for Farm and Rural Families
Learn about the Licensed Professional Counselors Association (LPCA) of Georgia’s focus on expanding mental health counseling in rural communities. As farmers, farm families and their rural neighbors face serious challenges to their well-being, trained counselors embedded in these communities are essential.

Presenters: Mason Dean, AgrAbility, Coordinator, South Georgia Region || Kyle Haney, University of Georgia, Rural Health Manager

OCTOBER 2025
Farmer Perspectives: Stress and Mental Health in Agriculture
Georgia’s farmers face unprecedented challenges and stress. Join this month’s Healthy Farmer Mindset Virtual Meeting to hear directly from farmers about what they see, hear and feel during these difficult times and why they believe building awareness and resources to support mental health is vital for Georgia’s agricultural communities and families.

Presenters: Necole Gonsahn, American Counseling Association, Secretary, Military and Government Division || Wade McElveen, Stilson Farms, Inc., Owner || Greg Sikes, National Peanut Buying Points Association, President

SEPTEMBER 2025
Suicide and the Agricultural Community: A Conversation about Impacts, Hope, and Resources
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Farmers and farmworkers experience significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation than the general population. Jennifer Dunn, assistant deputy commissioner for field operations south at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, will present data on suicidal ideation, contributing factors, and resources that offer hope for improving mental health and safety in farm families and rural communities.

Presenters: Jennifer Dunn, LMFT, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations South

AUGUST 2025
Resilience and Recovery in Georgia Agriculture
Farmers face significant challenges and high levels of stress as they work to provide food and clothing, putting them at increased risk for substance misuse. Dr. Christina Proctor, clinical associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, and Jeff Breedlove, strategic policy adviser at the Georgia Council for Recovery, discuss research on unhealthy consumption patterns and support systems that promote healthy practices and recovery in Georgia’s agricultural community.

Presenters: Jeff Breedlove, Georgia Council for Recovery, Strategic Policy Advisor || Christina Proctor, PhD, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Clinical Associate Professor, Undergraduate Coordinator

JULY 2025
Community Resiliency Model: Applicability for Stress Management in Rural Communities
Two lead trainers, certified by the Trauma Resource Institute, will discuss the benefits of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM). Learn how this model, which includes stress management and wellness skills, can be applied effectively in rural areas to positively impact the lives of our farmers, their families, and other community members. Participants will learn about the research-proven efficacy of this 30- to 90-minute training in reducing symptoms of depression and stress among various at-risk groups. GAWA includes CRM training as one of its offered resources across the state.

Presenters: Joan H. Anderson, JD, MPH, MBA, Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Senior Rural Health, Project Manager || Linda Grabbe, PhD, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, Community Resiliency Model GA, Inc., CEO & Community Resiliency Model Certified Teacher

JUNE 2025
Mental Health and Georgia Veterinarians: Stress and Resources
June 18 is Veterinarian Appreciation Day, and this month’s Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset virtual meeting will focus on stress and suicidal ideations among veterinarians, as well as the critical role veterinarians play in supporting our livestock farmers. Join us for discussions with several veterinarians who prioritize health and well-being and learn how they contribute to their communities.

Presenters: Tami H. McGraw, DVM, Private Practice owner and Mentor with Mentor Vet || Keri Riddick, DVM, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, Executive Director || Laura Smallwood, Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher, GVMA Wellness, Committee Chair || Marcus Webster, DVM, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Associate State Veterinarian

MAY 2025
Georgia’s Military Veterans in Agriculture: Voices of Perseverance & Support
May is Military Appreciation Month, and this month’s Georgia Healthy Farmer Mindset virtual meeting will spotlight three Georgia veterans who are positively contributing to the health and well-being of fellow veterans. Join us to hear from these important voices in Georgia agriculture and learn about the impact they are making!

Presenters: Connie Baptiste, Air Force Veteran, Veteran’s Mental Health Advocate, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Chef, Farmer || Iteago Felton, Owner, 3Ts Farms, Army Medic/Paratrooper Veteran, AgrAbility Board Member || Darrel Geving, HERO Agriculture, Veteran Services Liason

APRIL 2025
Georgia’s Opioid Crisis: Community Funding & Care Resources
Learn how your community can apply for the next round of funding from the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust. Holly Lynde, executive director of the trust, and Taylor Peyton, opioid abatement liaison, will speak.

Plus, hear from Cammie Rice of the CWC Alliance on the exciting Life Care Specialist program. The LCS program aims to prevent opioid addiction by providing alternative pain and stress management options and techniques.

Presenters: Holly Lynde, Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Executive Director, Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust || Cammie Rice, CWC Alliance, Founder

FOUNDING PARTNERS