By L. Lanie Doerr, LPC, MA 

3-minute read 

We’ve made it to our 3^rd and final risk factor.  The risk of the family farm legacy gets some attention in ag industry periodicals.  For many farmers, the stories of their grandparents, great-grandparents - 

those who stayed through the dust bowl & the depression - 

these figures may be larger than life.  We live in the later chapters of these stories.  Great grandpa bought that land.  Grandfather built these bins or shops.  This farm was originally homesteaded by great-great grandpa, who was also a blacksmith.  The family may have told & re-told the stories and to some degree honored what those folks accomplished.  Of course, if they hadn’t held on to the farm, the current generation might not be farming it.   

A farmer knows they are merely the present link in the chain.  The idea of letting down the heroes of the past can be terrifying.  

The idea of not passing the farm down to the next generation could feel humiliating or heartbreaking.    

Protective Factor 

I’m going to purposefully repeat a story I used earlier.  The women who were living in domestic violence situations started to get better when they recognized they had a choice, even if they had no intention of choosing to leave.   

Choices and boundaries can protect against this burden.   

• Reminding yourself regularly of your options, even the crazy ones 

• Accepting fully that the generations that came before had choices 

• Accept & admit that your children and grandchildren have choices 

• Let go of the idea that you are responsible for all those other people  

I sold the land I had in order to get my Master’s degree for this career and to take care of my children.  I told a crop insurance adjuster that I was selling, & you would have thought I had offered to kick his dog.  “Oh, you can’t ever sell land,” he said.  I understand the principal, but I had to choose.  I decided to move my life along this path, & I am content with my decision.  Farmer suicide risk is a problem that needs tackled, & I’m one of those who choose to do it.