Farm Stress Real Talk with Penn State Extension

This episode explores the female perspective of stress in agriculture and the many roles women often balance on the farm, in business, and at home. Renee Wilson and Meredith Shores discuss the challenges of wearing multiple hats, from managing farm and business responsibilities to raising families and supporting employees. They share how flexibility, delegation, strong support systems, and healthy coping strategies help them navigate stress and uncertainty. 

Host
Amber Otis – Educator, Penn State Extension

Guests
Renee Wilson – Shore Sisters
Meredith Shores – Shoresbrook Farms

Farm life doesn’t come with an off switch, and “work-life balance” can feel impossible when the weather writes your schedule and chores keep coming. We sit down with Amanda Balon, a fifth-generation farmer in Elk County, Pennsylvania, to talk honestly about what balance really looks like in agriculture and why flexibility is a survival skill for farm families.

We get specific about farm stress and farmer burnout, including the signs Amanda notices in herself: feeling cranky, losing focus, not wanting to do anything, and getting set off by small problems. From there, we dig into what actually helps, like taking a pause to cut decision fatigue, leaning into teamwork on the farm, and finding realistic ways to recharge during the busy season. Sometimes that “break” is as simple as getting off the farm together to run errands and talk, and sometimes it’s making sure the kids get their own time away to reset.

We also address the hardest part for many rural communities: asking for help. Amanda shares why it’s OK to reach out to other farmers, even when it feels like everyone is competing, and we highlight two key mental health resources: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the AgriStress Hotline at 833-897-2474, where counselors understand the unique pressures of farming and ranching.

If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a farm friend, and leave a review so more people in agriculture can find support when they need it.

Join Penn State Extension's Farm Stress team members as they review and discuss this year's Ag Forum held in Lancaster, PA. 

Episode Hosts: Chi Catalone, Ginger Fenton, Sonya Nace, and Amber Otis

Join the Extension Farm Stress Real Talk team as they reflect on their participation in the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show and their favorite events and activities of the week. 

Listen in as Ginger, Chi, Amber, and Sonya provide their reactions and thoughts to the ambiguous loss series interviews and how there are resources available to help individuals cope with feeling stuck or unsure of how to move forward from a challenging situation. 

Episode Speakers: Ginger Fenton, Chi Catalone, Amber Otis, and Sonya Nace

Additional Resources (mentioned in episode): 

• Pennsylvania AgriStress Hotline- available 24/7: 833-897-2474
• Suicide & Crisis Hotline: 988
• Communicating with Farmers Under Stress Webinar
• Mental Health First Aid Webinars
• QPR

Lead Image Credit: Ginger Fenton

Rob and Phillip from Horizon Farm Credit talk with Sonya about how planning and preparation can be solutions for financial farm stress.

Listen in to Sonya's chat with Eric Finkenbinder, Chief Meteorologist from ABC 27, as they discuss weather and farm stress. 

Jill Varner discusses farm stress and family dynamics, exploring how various stressors and crises can impact farm families and emphasizing the importance of identifying ways to communicate and strengthen the family unit in the times of uncertainty and loss. 

Join the conversation between Jeff and Amber to hear how Jeff used the loss of his dairy cows as a medium to connect with others experiencing significant farming losses. 

Learn more about Jeff at his website: https://jeffcorlemusic.com/

Listen to Jeff's Music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC30acLMpdWF-5kdzTCpUeNQ

Follow Jeff on TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook

Lead image photo credit- Amber Otis