Farmer’s Yards, a social initiative for farmers that aims to improve the mental health and well-being of older farmers, has been launched in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to forging connections that secure the future of farming in the state, has adopted the program as part of its efforts to respond positively to mental health and well being issues facing farmers, while creating opportunities to enhance social inclusion within the farming community, especially for older farmers.
- Farmer’s Yards provides a space for farmers to connect with peers who are at a similar stage of life
- The initiative helps farmers address challenges they face, such as adapting to physical limitations or transitioning the farm to the next generation
- Farmer’s Yards aims to prevent older farmers from feeling isolated or excluded from the farming community
The first Farmer’s Yards gathering in the US was held at the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, bringing together farmers from across the state to network with each other and reflect on the challenges of farm life.
Darlene Livingston, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Farm Link said: “Farmer’s Yards in Pennsylvania is designed for our farming community’s particular interests, requirements and values, in accordance with the model developed at University of Galway. The important role that the initiative plays in ensuring active social participation and inclusion for farmers as they age was evident with so many farmers in their 70s and 80s taking part. Such engagement will help prevent them from being isolated and feeling excluded from society in later life.”
Farmer’s Yards was initiated and developed by Dr Shane Conway at University of Galway’s Rural Studies Centre in Ireland, with support from the University’s Illuminate Program.
Dr Conway said: “The recent implementation of Farmer’s Yards in Pennsylvania showcases its universal appeal and adaptability for farming communities across the world. Farmers aged 65 and older are now the fastest-growing demographic of the farming population globally and this initiative provides a vital social outlet for older farmers to stay actively involved in their local community in later life. This is important because for many, farming is more than a job – it’s their identity and way of life.”
The Farmer’s Yards provides farmers with a platform to maintain legitimate social connectedness, collegiality, and comradeship with their peers where they live, and in turn, combat social isolation and loneliness, something that is particularly beneficial for older farmers who have few other social outlets and may live alone.
Pennsylvania Farm Link is planning further gatherings in rural communities across the state in the coming months as part of the adoption of the initiative.
Farmers who take part in the Farmer’s Yards social initiative are also exposed to a diverse set of farmer-focused knowledge transfer and exchange activities, such as succession planning, thereby helping them to successfully adapt through, and beyond, times of stress and distress. In Ireland, participating farmers receive tailored guidance on best-practice farm safety measures and access to free health checks, helping to break down longstanding barriers that have hindered ‘harder-to-reach’ members of the farming community from accessing essential support and healthcare services.
