Farm Fit

Strength for the farm.  Strength for life.

Harvest Hustle 5K Run & Walk in Support of Farmer Well-Being

Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 8 AM

501 Fairground Dr., Paulding, Ohio 45879-9275

Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/harvest-hustle-5k-run-walk-in-/943963011367114/
Tickets: See Facebook Post

You’re Never Alone | Farmer Mental Health

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health on the farm. Taking care of yourself is necessary work worth doing. Find tools and support here: https://bit.ly/4sgNV9X

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial/Text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text “CONNECT” to 741741

 You’re Invited to Join Us for the 3rd Annual Harvest Hustle 5K Run & Walk in Support of Farmer Well-Being!  Participants of all ages are welcome to run or walk at their own pace! Any runners who are an athlete on their high school track or cross country teams are invited to participate FREE OF COST!

Race is Thursday, June 11th, During the Paulding County Fair!

  • Check-In Opens at 7:00 AM
  • Race Begins at 8:00 AM
  • Awards Ceremony at 10:00 AM.

Check-in and the race start will be at the Farm Bureau Building on the Paulding County Fairgrounds, located between the Rabbit Barn and Paulding FFA Alumni Sausage Stand.  Registration can be completed via the following Google Form [https://forms.gle/SSLme1k5wsFenpcA6]. Your registration is NOT COMPLETE until you have paid the race entry fee, either via PayPal [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VWMLSJ8KWCXN4] or by notating that you plan to pay in cash on the day of the race!!

The race entry fee of $10 covers each runner’s number tag, participant drawstring bag of goodies, and refreshments for once you cross the finish line. All proceeds will be used to distribute “Harvest Health” boxes to area farmers during the 2026 fall harvest season. Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female participants in the following divisions:

  • 18 & Under
  • 19 to 38 Years Old
  • 39 to 58 Years Old
  • 59 & Older

The overall first place race finisher will earn a trophy! Contact the Farm Bureau Office for more information at 567-376-9998 or paulding@ofbf.org!

Growing our Generation: Mental health awareness

Reposted from the Ohio Farm Bureau

You have probably heard the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” meaning that unpleasant, challenging times such as rain or hardships can lead to something beautiful and positive. As we say goodbye to April and hello to May, we welcome Mental Health Awareness Month as a time to recognize the unique mental health challenges facing rural communities. In rural America, where long, tiring days meet economic uncertainty, mental health can be deeply impacted and difficult to address.

Meet Mattea Shockling, agricultural navigator serving Noble, Guernsey and Morgan counties.

Addressing a need

The Muskingum Area Mental Health & Recovery Services Board recognized the agricultural community as an underserved population, taking seriously the statistic of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation that ‘Farmers in Ohio and across the U.S. face a high-stress crisis, with suicide rates approximately 3.5 times higher than the general population.’ The board addressed this need by advertising for an agricultural navigator. I answered the call without hesitation. My role is centered around connecting individuals and families in the agricultural community to resources, support and education that can help them navigate both personal and professional challenges.

Day in the life

There is no “typical day” in the role of agricultural navigator, which is one of the things I love most. Some days I’m sitting down with a farmer over a cup of coffee, talking through stressors or connecting them to local services. Other days, I’m working with community partners like OSU Extension, Farm Bureau, and our local schools to bring educational programming and outreach into the community.

My goal is simple: to strengthen the sustainability of our farms by also strengthening the people behind them. The agricultural community is built on resilience, but resilience doesn’t mean doing everything alone. Sometimes, it means knowing when to ask for support and, more importantly, knowing where to find it.

Speaking of health, did you know that Ohio Farm Bureau is now offering health plans for individuals, self-employed workers, and farm families who need an alternative to expensive marketplace coverage? Click here to learn more.