Editor’s Note: Since the attendees were seeking resources regarding mental health support, the Austin Daily Herald chose to not identify the participants by name out of respect for privacy.

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Inside an intimate setting on Monday night at Riverland Community College, about 15 people from the agricultural industry gathered to talk about something that many still struggle to speak openly about: depression and finding help.

Presenting “Resilience in the Face of Change,” Dennis Hoiberg, a consultant with Lessons Learnt Consulting in Melbourne, Australia, talked to the attendees about becoming more open to discuss their own personal challenges in the face of a changing industry where many have to adapt in order to succeed, as well as not to hold tightly onto the difficulties they face.

“Resilience in its technical term means to bounce back through change,” Hoiberg said. “This community has been through some tough things. …Resilience is not about thinking happy thoughts. It means to bounce forward, and that you can survive.”

During the presentation, guests were asked what they associated with depression:

“Hopeless,” someone said.

Since 2013, farmers and ranchers nationwide have tried to weather an almost 50 percent drop in net farm income, which was considered the largest four-year drop since the start of the Great Depression, according to Farm Aid. With commodity prices fluctuating, inclement weather damaging crops or delaying seasons, farmers are experiencing a significant strain on their livelihood as they push through the day to day tasks.

However, the workshops are meant to bring people from various sectors of the agricultural community together (families, included) to learn more about the resources available to them if needed, whether it’d be for business or for personal health. Representatives from Gerard Academy were also present to help connect attendees with mental health services and therapy.

When asked about what helps them push through negativity and cope with immense stress in the farming community, there were varied responses:

“Leave the work at work,” one male participant said.

“I make lists and prioritize,” another male attendee offered.

These workshops were meant to utilize some of the ag business resources that were available to individuals from around southeast Minnesota. However, the most important takeaway from the session was that no one was facing these challenges alone.

“There is support in numbers,” said Dan Hoffman, interim director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Science at Riverland. “This is about being resilient. …are you aware of the resources that are open to you? We want to give you a message of hope.”