Season 5: Episode 212
 
In this episode of North American Ag Spotlight, Chrissy Wozniak is joined by Jaime Jerrels, Senior Director of Policy and Outreach at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, to discuss one of the most powerful and overlooked challenges in agriculture today: farmer mental health. Florida Farm Bureau, in partnership with UF/IFAS and the Mind Your Melon Foundation, has released its first-ever statewide mental health report—and the findings are deeply personal, alarming, and a call to action.

Jaime brings more than just her professional insights to the conversation. Raised on a peanut and cattle farm in Levy County and now raising five children on that same land with her husband, she speaks from the heart—both as a policy advocate and as a woman of faith. Her passion for standing in the gap for farmers who often carry the weight of the world in silence is rooted in her belief that agriculture is more than an industry—it’s a mission field.

The conversation goes far beyond statistics, touching on hurricanes, financial stress, isolation, and the unique burdens of rural life. Jaime shares her firm belief that faith, prayer, and community can bring healing and strength where it’s needed most. She encourages struggling producers to lean on their relationship with God, seek out trusted connections, and remember that telehealth and other support tools are available—and confidential.

Chrissy and Jaime also explore the critical role churches, Farm Bureau, and peer-to-peer relationships play in restoring connection and hope to those silently struggling.

Learn more and view the full 2025 Mind Your Melon Farmer Wellbeing Survey at: https://www.floridafarmbureau.org

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