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The Rural Resiliency Project

The Rural Resiliency Project is a new project funded through the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Foundation. The Rural Resiliency Project offers programming in collaboration with the Cultivating Resiliency Program and the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health
Center (UMASH).

The goal of the project is to increase the resiliency of farmers, farm families, and rural communities in rural Wisconsin, prioritizing efforts to reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance economic well-being. Rural Resiliency Sessions focus on building entrepreneurship, workforce development, and supporting farm transitions. The Rural Resiliency Project is also working to identify and address current needs and emerging issues, as well as laying the foundation for ongoing work for rural resiliency in Wisconsin.

UPCOMING AND RECORDED WEBINARS

Register for FREE Rural Resiliency Sessions! Rural Resiliency sessions are live webinar sessions that help build resiliency and empower economic well-being. Sessions will be recorded and will be made available for viewing post-webinar. Session participants remain anonymous as they participate in the session. Participants cannot see each other and cannot view each other’s names. Nor are participant images or names recorded during the session.

May 25, 2022 – 12 PM

24/7/365 – Women Juggling it All Resiliency Circle

Does it feel like you are on duty 24/7/365? You are the mistress of multi-tasking!  Spinning plates, juggling balls you do it all. The Circle will be an ongoing group that will allow women juggling it all to have a safe space to share ideas, challenges, and successes. Each group meeting will have a brief education component on a topic related to women juggling it all followed by a discussion. The Circle will include Monica McConkey moderating the discussion, offering tips for managing everything, stress reduction and more. Monica will be joined by women farmers with lived experience who will offer some practical insights. We will also share other resources that can help those who are juggling it all.

Registration is limited for each session. Participants may come to one session, come every month or join the circle as needed across time. Each session will last one and a half hours. Participants do not need to attend the entire session. Circle participants are anonymous and they choose how to participate – they can just listen; they can type in questions or comments or they may unmute and verbalize questions or comments.   The session will not be recorded. Participants cannot see each other nor do they see each other’s names.

The Rural  Resiliency Project uses an online platform where session participants remain anonymous as they participate in the session. Participants cannot see each other and cannot view each other’s names. Nor are participant images or names recorded during the session.

Please note that you must register to view recorded webinars.

Past Webinars:

Please note that you must register to view recorded webinars

The HUMAN Side of Farm Transitions: March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

Tears…Stony Silence…Yelling. The “human side” of farm transitions is often just as, or more, complex as the legal and financial process.  Generational differences, lack of effective communication, and family dynamics are three areas that will be explored during this webinar.  Strategies will be shared on how to navigate relationship challenges in order to pass on the legacy of the family farm…and still be able to sit down together at a holiday dinner.

About our presenter:

Monica Kramer McConkey, Rural Mental Health Specialist and LPC has 25+ years of experience in the behavioral health field as a child and adolescent counselor, program supervisor, and administrator. Monica grew up on a farm and has an intimate understanding of the dynamics that contribute to farm stress and its impact on farm families. Monica is very much in touch with the agricultural way of life. Monica will be joined by a farmer who has personal transition experience along with professionals who have worked with farm families to develop transition plans. 

Please look for our Resiliency Circles as a follow-up to this webinar where participants can participate in interactive anonymous conversations on the topic.

Complete this registration form to access the recording of The HUMAN Side of Farm Transitions:

VIEW RECORDING
Having Productive Farm Meetings: April 19, 2022

Sometimes it feels like farm meetings turn into one big yelling match, where nothing ever gets done. It doesn’t have to be like that. In this session, we will learn how to have productive farm meetings. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of it all, covering all topics from how to set an agenda, to where you should sit at the table. Running a farm takes a village, it is important that village is all on the same page. Bringing together all members of the operation to have open, yet controlled conversation is the first step in making your day-to-day operation flow more smoothly and also gives you the time you need to make plans for the future.

About our presenter:

Alma Jorgenson grew up on a beef and small grain farm in Big Stone County, Minnesota. Her passion for rural mental health started while she was working in her local grocery store, interacting with small town residents and farmers daily. Alma left Big Stone County to study psychology and geography at Gustavus Adolphus, and worked on a family-owned dairy farm while in college. She knows the culture of farming, and the challenges it puts on families. She also knows the connections between policy, access, and meaningful care for struggling families.  Alma focuses on solution-oriented, positive interventions.

Complete this registration form to access the recording of Having Productive Farm Meetings:

VIEW RECORDING

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