Beyond the Weather: Protecting the People Behind Agriculture
There is no doubt that our farmers and ranchers are some of the toughest folks out there,and I speak from experience. From drought and commodity prices to input prices and evenisolation at times, there are a vast number of stressors that our producers face each andevery day. When we look at the big picture, let’s […]
Beyond the Weather Explores Rural Life and Mental Health With Klayton Lohr
Welcome to Beyond the Weather—where the conversations go deeper than the forecast. This is a place for real stories from rural life… the humor, the challenges and the people that keep us going. Because sometimes, the most important things to talk about are not the easiest things to bring up. Courtney Obviously, we can keep […]
Beyond the Weather: Trevor Schock Shares Mental Health Journey in Agriculture
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 […]
Breaking the Stigma: Prioritizing Mental Health in Rural Communities
Mental health is a real and growing crisis in rural communities, but its impact reaches far beyond agriculture. From small towns to large cities, mental health challenges affect people everywhere. Too often, mental health remains a taboo topic that many avoid discussing openly. In Montana’s rural communities, access to mental health professionals and services remains […]
NonStop Local: Interview with Klayton Lohr
Thanks to Matti Olson from NonStop Local for covering this story on April 22, 2025. Montana Grain Growers President and Fourth Generation Farmer, Klayton Lohr shared that 2024 was one of his worst financial years yet and what a challenge that can be. With good moisture early on, they put all the inputs and investment […]
The Montana Phone Booth Project
Belgrade, MT – In Montana’s vast and open space, where communities are often small and far apart, isolation can take a heavy toll on a person’s mind. Artist Jim Dolan, known for his public art installations including “Bleu Horses”, is launching a unique initiative aimed at bridging that gap—The Montana Phone Booth Project. The idea […]
Beyond the Weather: A Ranch Woman’s Perspective on Agricultural Stress
From the pressure of marrying in to an established ranching family to how to get through loneliness and grief, Jenny Stovall gets “Beyond the Weather”. In an effort to normalize conversations surrounding mental health in the agriculture community, Northern Ag Network’s Courtney Kibblewhite interviewed Stovall for her perspective. Jenny (Singleton) Stovall ranches with her husband […]
“Groundwork” Episode 7: Normalizing Mental Health Care in Agricultural Communities, Addressing Farm Stress & Restoring Wellbeing in Rural Montana
Megan Torgerson (narrating): It’s easy to spot the stress of labor on a farmer’s body. A weathered face wears lines drawn on by the sun. Calloused hands know the grip of a shovel. Flesh burns then scars from the brush of a branding iron, and after years of hauling grain into town, a back remains in […]
Addressing Mental Health in Rural America
Confronting mental health challenges is difficult for anyone, especially farmers and ranchers known for their toughness. No matter what life throws at them, they can handle it. That reputation and the negative stigma around mental health in rural communities has left many to suffer in silence. With research showing rising rates of depression and suicide […]
Ending Youth Suicide: Is this Program in Your School?
In the 2021 Montana High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, roughly half of all students reported feeling seriously depressed at some point in the last year, and one in five reported seriously considering suicide and making a suicide plan. About 1 in 10 students had attempted suicide in in the past year. Rural Behavioral Health […]