Farming and ranching in Montana are not easy tasks. It takes both physical and mental strength to make a living across the windy plains and winding valleys of the state. Many producers describe themselves and their neighbors as resilient, gritty, resourceful, dedicated and adaptable. Along with those traits, however, often come isolation, stress, anxiety, loneliness and burnout.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and taking care of the mind should be a priority alongside caring for the rest of the body.

A few months ago, in January, I tore the bicep in my left arm while helping my dad work on his deck. I later learned I needed surgery to reattach it. At the same time, I had commitments to travel to Washington, D.C., to represent the Montana Grain Growers Association and attend a wedding in Mexico.

I thought I could fit the surgery in between those trips and still have time during the winter to rest and focus on physical therapy. Instead, after a week in Washington, a week of surgery and recovery, and another week of travel, I reached both my physical and mental limit.

I was physically exhausted from surgery and traveling across the continent. More than that, I was struggling with the reality that I would not be able to use my arm for months. I worried constantly about the upcoming spring season and whether I would be able to work normally again. I could not pick up my kids, open a jar of pickles or even pour myself a bowl of cereal.

It took a lot for me to admit, even to myself, that I was not OK.

Now, as I write this, I am nearly back to 100%, and it seems strange to look back on how I felt at the time. But those emotions were real. I could not shake the feeling that I was somehow less capable than before.

What helped me most were open and honest conversations with my wife and friends. I realized bottling everything up and simply telling myself it would get better was not the best solution.

Coincidentally, not long before my injury, Jim Dolan placed one of his red “Call Home” phone booths near one of our fields along Highway 13. Seeing that phone booth nearly every day has become a reminder that it is important to talk through both the good days and the bad ones.

Let your family, friends and neighbors know how you are really doing.

One of the best things about Montana is that it still feels like one big small town. The people around you genuinely care. Farming and ranching are difficult professions, and it is important to check in on the people around us and see what is happening in their lives beyond the weather.

— Trevor Schock
Secretary, Montana Grain Growers Association