Growing the Future

The Silent Killer in Ag 

Episode Summary

In this episode Terry and Holden sit down with Lesley Kelly. Lesley opens up about her husbands experiences with anxiety on the farm. It took great courage to share his story on social media. In the end, it changed their lives, and the lives of many others. There are very few that went before them. Now the conversation about mental health in ag has changed.

Episode Notes

Have you ever sat in your tractor at the edge of the field with an invisible force holding you back and thought “How am I going to make it through today?”

Lesley Kelly’s husband Matt has lived with such anxiety.

For many years it fueled him.

Eventually, it became too much to bear alone.

It took great courage to share his story on social media.

In the end, it changed their lives, and the lives of many others.

There are very few that went before them.

Now the conversation about mental health in ag has changed.

Terry and Holden continue that conversation with Lesley on Season 4, Episode 9 of the  Growing the Future Podcast.

Lesley is known as “High Heels and Canola Fields” on social media.

She is a farmer, public speaker, Co-Founder of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, and co-host of the “What the Farm Podcast” along with Rob Sharkey .

This episode will flood you with emotions as we can already relate to the struggles that Lesley, Terry, and Holden have faced.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why is Lesley passionate about sharing their mental health story?
• Lesley’s background in farming
• Lesley’s social media influence
• How to deal with the stigma and feelings of mental health
• How can parents can help their kids when struggling?
• Why is it so hard to talk about mental health?
• How are schools dealing with student’s mental health
• What is the finger exercise and what is it good for?
• How to be self aware when it comes to your mental health
• What happened the first time Lesley opened up on social media about mental health?
• How you can help those struggling with their mental health?
• What is self care? How should one practice it?
• Succession plans that include mental health
• Lesley’s dad and the impact he made on the community
   

Connect with Lesley: 

Website:https://highheelsandcanolafields.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lesleyraekelly

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highheelsandcanolafields

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highheelsandcanolafields/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAv8ctmfnYIN2BTOi4I5rxg

Shop Lesley’s merch here: https://highheelsandcanolafields.com/shop/
 

Aberhart Family of Companies:

https://aberhartagsolutions.ca

https://aberhartfarms.com

https://suregrowth.ca

https://www.convergencegrowth.com

Connect with us on AGvisorPro: https://link-app.agvisorpro.com/aberhart-dan

If you want to be part of the Growing the Future community, make sure to say hi on social at: https://linktr.ee/Growingthefuturepodcast

You are never alone help is a call away: 

National Crisis Centre: 1-800-784-2433

Child/Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040

Mental Health Line: 211 or 211.ca

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868