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The Rural Woman Podcast


Sep 30, 2020

[TW/CW: MH, MI] This episode of The Rural Woman Podcast contains discussion of mental health, mental illness, discussion of suicide. These themes may be upsetting to some listeners. If you or a loved one find yourself needing emotional support or are in crisis please note the following resources:

Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or send a text to 45645

US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline1-800-273-8255

USA & Canada Text LineText HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor


On this week’s episode of The Rural Woman Podcast, you’ll meet Katie Lyons. Katie grew up on a century farm in West Central Illinois raising hogs, beef cattle and growing row crops.  Highly active in 4-H, this passion for agriculture eventually pushed her to pursue a career within the industry.  After graduating from the University of Illinois’ Animal Sciences program, she has worked within some of the most influential agricultural companies including Cargill, Monsanto, and now Bayer Crop Sciences.  Katie’s passion continues to help American agriculture “feed the world”.  With her husband John, Katie is raising two boys, Jack and Aidan, who are very active in 4-H and love all things farming, the outdoors, and dream of carrying on in some way the family farm tradition.

It is not money, but love that pushes a farmer to pursue this vocation.  Love that walks hand in hand with loss, heartache, and sometimes depression.  Feeding the world is stressful.  Even the strongest souls are not immune to its strain.  After losing her father to suicide in 2013, Katie has combined her passion and loss into a mission; advocating for mental health on the farm.  Katie is working to spread information on depression, anxiety and suicide in hopes of helping others seek the support they need before another family shares her loss.  

For show notes including links mentioned in today's show, head on over to WildRoseFarmer.com