The Rural Voice, 2002-03, Page 66BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa.on.ca/bruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Stop, talk, pray and listen to beat stress
After the tragic incident on a
Formosa area dairy farm, I thought
how important it is to talk when we
are stressed out. Stress is part of life,
but how we handle stress is what will
make the difference between a rich,
full life on the farm or just farming.
I read a cartoon last fall that
suggested the way to handle the low
commodity prices and low yields was
to find the humour in it and laugh. I
thought at the time I'll takethe
laughter, but can I take the laughter
to the bank as payment on the bank
loan or mortgage? Laughter helps but
with the many stresses in our lives,
we need to do more. For me Stop,
Talk, Pray and Listen are keys to
facing stress.
With spring around the corner,
comes all the pressures of pricing
seed, fertilizer and rent; comparing
corn, soybeans, wheat, or hay to feed
cattle, as we try to find some way to
make money. With this stress and
nerves, depression can be close at
hand. We are not the first or the last
to be in this state, but throw in a bad
situation, such as a barn fire, auto or
farm accident, or it maybe a flat tire
on a tractor or equipment, not a big
thing, but it is just the last straw to
break the camel's back. And you are
the camel.
You can be in a room full of
friends and family but you feel so
alone. It is as if no one is there. No
one is helping. No one cares. No one
wants to listen. Least of all, no one
wants to talk, echoes through your
head. You're not even sure you want
to talk.
STOP: Sit down. Close your eyes.
Cry. Smell the rose that isn't there.
Look for that sunrise. See the snow
on the branch of a tree in the bush or
the glitter of the sun in the frozen rain
on the sugar maple in the lane.
Picture people: your spouse and
children, friends and neighbours.
They do care and want to see you
again. The work will be there
tomorrow. The world won't end if
you don't finish sowing that field or
62 THE RURAL VOICE
fixing the tractor. The banker or the
Jones's won't know you stopped
working and went out for lunch with
your other half, or your children.
In 1988, I had an unscheduled visit
to the Owen Sound Hospital and was
treated for depression. It was an
education to discover that I was not
alone. We, the human race, go
through highs and lows. Many people
will experience depression.
For us, it is the stress of farming,
and the uncertain weather that
sometimes make it seem like you
can't do anything right. Cut hay and
it rains. Plant corn and you put the
wrong fertilizer with it. Milk the
cows and discover you forgot the
treated cow. Everything is wrong.
How do we handle the day, the week?
TALK. Talk to someone that has
been there are someone above.
PRAY. Learn to pray. For me this
prayer means a great deal.
God,
Grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I
can,
And the wisdom to know the
difference.
In March of 2000, our barn burnt.
It was rough. But as the days go on I
learned that people cared, not for the
barn, but for me and my family. It is
the community that makes it all right.
The barn, the hay or the corn is not
what's important. What is important
is what you don't see when you are
down, such as the love of your
spouse, child, mom, dad, family, and
community. We have to be reminded
of it constantly. Tell your loved ones
you love them. Show them your love.
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2002
8:00 P.M.
Sprucedale Agromart
R.R. #2. Walkerton
25th sideroad Brant (north off of former
Hwy.#4 - east of Walkerton)
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
Learn to LISTEN. Read the signs
of both love and depression. Talk.
Employees in a company would
have access to a counselling service,
but on the family farm there is no
service. On top of that, we often work
on our own.
The insurance companies have
loss prevention for fire and wind, etc.
Stress counselling after a major loss
would save lives and money. Maybe
a fraction of a cent per head sold, or
milk shipped or two dollars of all
farm business registration could
finance a counselling service. In the
meantime, there are counselling
services out there — Queen's Bush
Rural Ministry, 519-369-6774
(collect), New Life Counselling
Service, 519-848-2870 or 1-800-410-
4506 and the church ministers are just
a few.
I feel one of the best therapies is to
briefly get away from the farm;
volunteer in sports, charity or the
church; and meet people. It is good
for the soul. You will realize you are
not alone and will be thankful the sun
is up.
Smile. Laugh. Sing. Whistle. It is
a good day.0
– Submitted by Lorne Underwood
Carrick Township Director
OFA
Communications
Seminar
Tuesday, March 5, 2002
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Hall
Hanover
Grey and Bruce Directors, OFA Members
and Community Organizations
are welcome to attend
To register call OFA Office at
1-800-275-9551 or 519-364-3050
Cost: $10/person