Schools have been in session for almost six months now! Students are getting in the groove of balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities. Teachers are creating lesson plans and grading students’ work. However, at times these tasks may become stressful. Stress can lead to mental health concerns. Research shows that every three-in ten students struggle with poor mental health. To support this concern, the Minnesota FFA Foundation has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to promote mental health in Minnesota agricultural education students and teacher

“We are proud to lend our voice and efforts to the important work of supporting our agricultural community through the Bend Don’t Break program. FFA members have long taken an active role in supporting their community. This program aligns with our efforts to support our schools and communities in the important area of rural mental health. The partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is a valuable one that reaches beyond the 40,000 students we serve across Minnesota,” shared Val Aarsvold, Executive Director.

This initiative has provided 18 Minnesota FFA chapters with funds to conduct mental health wellness within their school and community. The grant process will encourage FFA chapters to address their community’s mental health wellness needs, respecting that there is no one way to share a message of awareness and available support to those feeling the effects of stress.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was selected as a recipient of the Bend Don’t Break Grant. The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter chose to give a Wellness Gift to all 7th – 12th grade students! The Wellness Gift included 13 items in the bag: Inspirational Quote Notebook, Pen, Card, Stress Ball, Magnet, Softlips Lip Protectant, Fruit snacks, Rice Krispie treat, mini Pringles, M & M’s, Tic Tacs, Fidgit items- pop keychain and porcupine ball.

Sleepy Eye FFA Advisors, Mr. Hendrickx, Mary Hoffmann, and Katie Emmett, accepted the grant check from Val Aarsvold, MN FFA Foundation Director. The grant was part of the Bend, Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness Program.

This work is supported by Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program award no. 2021-70035- 35461 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.