Sustaining Personal Mental Health and Wellness

March 9, 2023 | Thursday Sessions 

 Grace Community Church 5:30 – 8:30 pm 

5:30 PM - Arrivals and Supper

6:00 PM - WELCOME – Cheryl Hunsinger, Farm Bureau

6:15 – 7:00 PM - 
     o  Weathering the Storm in Agriculture; Cultivating a Productive Mindset , Rebecca McFarland
Build awareness around potentially stressful conditions affecting farmers. Participants will learn their individual stress triggers, how to identify signs of stress in themselves and others, review helpful techniques for responding, and develop effective coping strategies.

7:00 – 7:15 PM - BREAK

7:15 – 8:00 PM -
     o Mindfully Managing Stress & Supporting Others,  Julia Gaughan.
A presentation developed at the Bert Nash Center to help facilitate conversations and learning around stress management, recognizing some simple signs that a person might be struggling, and providing some basic ‘How-To-Help’ guidance.

8:00 – 8:30 PM 
     o  Facilitated Panel Discussion, with Questions from the floor, Lowell Neitzel. 


Our Presenters

Read Below to learn about  this day's presenters! 

Rebecca McFarland

Director & Family and Community Wellness Agent 
Frontier Extension District

Rebecca McFarland has 28 years of experience in Extension and is currently the Director and Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Frontier Extension District (Anderson, Franklin, and Osage counties). She has a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies and a graduate-level certificate in conflict resolution, both from Kansas State University. Rebecca is a co-leader for the K-State Research and Extension Stress and Resiliency Team and a certified QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer) Suicide Prevention Instructor. She grew up on a livestock and row crop farm in Cloud County and she and her husband currently farm over 3700 acres of row crops, consisting mainly of soybeans, corn, wheat and most recently, popcorn.


Julia Gaughan

Bert Nash

Julia Gaughan (she/her) is the Prevention & Education Manager for the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. Julia serves as the primary instructor and coordinator for Mental Health First Aid for the Center and coordinates prevention, training, and education efforts across the Center. Julia is certified to teach Adult, Youth, and teen Mental Health First Aid, and is certified to teach virtually for both Adult and Youth MHFA. . Julia will be offering a presentation called “Mindfully Managing Stress and Supporting Others.” This presentation is designed to help participants learn more about stress, its impacts on the body, and ways to alleviate or manage stress. Additionally, participants will learn some simple ways to identify if someone else is experiencing a mental health challenge and ways to offer nonjudgmental support.


Lowell Neitzel

Farmer, Bismarck Farms

Lowell is a 4th generation farmer in Douglas County. Where he is part of his wife's family's operation. Lowell has learned over the past several years the importance of good mental health.


Thank you!