Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
ST. CLOUD — Organizers of Saturday's Ag for All conference in St. Cloud say they aim to cultivate connections and community among LGBTQ+ farmers and agriculturists in Minnesota.
People came from across the state March 8 to attend the University of Minnesota Extension's first Ag for All conference at the Holiday Inn and Suites in St. Cloud.
“The face of agriculture in Minnesota is changing, which is a good thing,” Bev Durgan, the dean of the University of Minnesota Extension, said at the beginning of the conference.”Diversity is a good thing. Diversity in thought and in action is a good thing.”
Mental health was a big topic of conversation as both farmers and queer people have higher suicide risks, according to University of Illinois assistant professor Courtney Cuthbertson.
In 2023, farmers were 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association. Meanwhile, 41% of LGBTQ young people seriously considered attempting suicide that same year, according to the advocacy group the Trevor Project.
Cuthbertson studies "stress spaces" in agriculture: What are the stressors for farmers, and what are potential solutions.
During a 2016 study, Cuthbertson surveyed 148 farmers from 36 states, and then followed up by interviewing 17 farmers.
The survey found that, while queer people and farmers have higher than average suicide risks, being both queer and a farmer does not further increase the risk.
“From the study and talking with farmers, we found that farming can have some therapeutic-like qualities,” Cuthbertson said. “Farming can remove high levels of stimuli found at things like official jobs and allow for deeper, more meditative thinking.”
Cuthbertson moderated a panel on the challenges of being queer in the industry and the breakthroughs that can be made. Also on the panel in the hotel's Bennie Rox room Saturday were Compeer Principal credit officer and farmer Brent Kelsey, and farmer Laura Fredrickson-Gosewisch.
All three said they found that working in affirming environments — meaning LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces — can make a difference in mental health.
“There are some farms I visit where I will take off my wedding ring because I see certain political signs out front, or there will be times where I will be careful about mentioning the pronouns of my partner,” said Kelsey, who rents land and farms with his husband. “I act differently when I don’t have to worry about those things.”
Kelsey and Fredrickson-Gosewisch shared stories about being denied the opportunity to rent land because of their sexuality.
While there are many challenges LGBTQ+ people have to deal with, there are also a lot of resources, Fredrickson-Gosewisch said. The trick is, she added, is just knowing where to find them.
“I want queer people, especially queer kids, to know that there is space for them in agriculture — not only to be here but to thrive,” Fredrickson-Gosewisch said. “Some people are surprised by how many of us are in the agriculture space, but we’re here and we’re queer.”