WESTLOCK – If you know a farmer who could use a night out on the town with cabin fever setting in, you may want to buy them a ticket to the 5th Annual Farmer's Appreciation Night.
The event, set for Jan. 24 at the Westlock and District Community Hall, is designed to offer a break for local farmers and acknowledge their hard work and resilience.
“They don’t have to actively be farming to attend the event even though we call it farmers appreciation,” said Christine Vachon, president of Soul Sisters Foundation, the organization behind the event.
“You can be a retired farmer. You can be married to a farmer. You could have grown up on a farm. You could work in the industry, or you could wish you were on a farm. We live in a farming community and those farmers are important to us, so we call it the Farmer’s Appreciation Night."
The highlight of the evening will be an inspirational address by Chris Koch, a farmer from Nanton who was born without arms or legs. Koch will speak about resilience, drawing from his own remarkable life story.
Reflecting on the changes in society over the years and how people tend to be more isolated now than in the past, she said the evening is an opportunity for connections.
“It’s almost like we tend to stick to ourselves more. There’s probably a handful that still go help someone. If they know someone they go and help but it’s not like it used to be.”
This shift in social support is especially felt when it comes to grief. Vachon said that in the sixties or seventies, communities would rally around those who had lost loved ones, often bringing food and offering a comforting presence.
“People don’t even really support those people grieving like they used to back in the day.”
Recognizing that farmers can be particularly difficult to persuade out of isolation, Vachon encourages community members to bring those who may be reluctant to attend, adding that afterwards, they are often glad they attended.
“People see it wasn’t as bad as they stressed out over it.”
The event could help anyone given the mental health challenges facing many farmers. According to AgKnow, a mental health support organization for farmers, over 75 per cent of Alberta farmers are experiencing anxiety, and nearly 66.7 per cent are facing depression. Suicide rates among farmers are also alarmingly high.
Soul Sisters Memorial Foundation aims to educate and raise awareness about mental illness and suicide prevention. Vachon said that while farming is rewarding, it also comes with challenges that affect farmers’ mental health. The Mental Health Commission of Canada, a national not-for profit group, says that farmers are at risk of suicide due to factors including isolation, financial uncertainty, barriers to accessing mental health, blurred distinction between work and home life, and easy access to firearms.
Tickets for the evening are $25 each, and minors are welcome to attend. There will be beef on a bun, door prizes and a cash bar.
To purchase tickets, visit the Soul Sisters Memorial Foundation website at www.soulsistersmemorialfoundation.com.
