The Guthrie County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is continuing a fall tradition this year.

Program Director Meghan McBride says that the Extension is making and handing out fall feel good packages for farmers this month. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio about the program.

“Those are to help raise awareness for mental health in rural Iowa, and provide farmers with resources to manage their own mental health. Those packages will have some things like snacks, a first aid kit, a stress ball, some fidget toys and other goodies.”

McBride says harvest has already started in Guthrie County, and the long hours farmers put in to finish getting their crops out of the fields faster can take a toll, and cause loneliness, especially for those who work by themselves, and not as part of an outfit or group. McBride mentions that the different toys and goodies in the packages give farmers a nice snack and something to do in the little bit of down time they have while running large machinery.