Togetherall cultivates online support for farmers

Remington Rice<riceremi@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension, and Morgan MathisonSlee<riceremi@msu.edu>, Department of Community Sustainability -

Discover Togetherall, an online community for farmers, and explore additional resources provided by MSU Extension. Remember, you're never alone in your journey.

MSU Extension farm stress staff visit with farmers.
MSU Extension farm stress staff visit with farmers. Photo: Remington Rice/MSU Extension.

A new service has blossomed and is now available to our farming community. The Farm Family Wellness Alliance, in collaboration with the American Farm Bureau and other funding partners, proudly presents Togetherall — a online community where farmers and their families can find solace, support and sanctuary.

What is Togetherall?

Togetherall is an online community designed to provide support, counseling and community for individuals experiencing stress, anxiety or other behavioral health challenges. Since January 2024, farmers and farm family members have had access to a dedicated peer-to-peer space for the agriculture community. Any farm family member 16 years and older can create a free account today.

How do I access Togetherall?

Visit the Togetherall account creation portal to start accessing this supportive community of farmers today. You’ll be assigned an anonymous username and be able to then connect with a global network of peers in agriculture.

According to Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, "It's okay not to be okay, but it's not okay not to reach out when you're hurting…”

Can I still access the resources offered by MSU Extension?

Yes! Any Michigan farmer, farm worker, farm family member, fisheries employee or agricultural professional can still the resources provided by MSU Extension. These resources include counseling services, educational workshops, farm business management consultations, a free online course on how to manage farm stress and succession planning tools through the MSU Extension Farm Stress project. To connect with any of these free resources, you can reach out to farm stress specialist Remington Rice directly at riceremi@msu.edu or complete the confidential survey.

We also want to highlight the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free, nationwide 24/7 resource that provides immediate support and assistance. Whether you're facing behavioral health struggles, stress or crisis, reaching out for help is a brave step in taking care of yourself and the farm.

MSU Extension, Togetherall, American Farm Bureau, the 988 Lifeline, and others are here to support you through every season, ensuring that no farmer or farm family member ever feels alone in their journey towards wellness.

Opportunities to connect

Michigan State University Extension also offers a variety of programming and resources to support yourself or loved ones undergoing mental health distress. MSU Extension offers programs such as Mental Health First Aid, which can teach you how to support someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

For those in the agriculture industry and their families, resources and information can be found at the Managing Farm Stress website. These resources include teletherapy services, the free virtual training Rural Resilience and much more.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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