Mental health advocate Brandon Fullenkamp from Highland County was a guest on the Farmside Chat podcast with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall.
The latest episode of American Farm Bureau’s Farmside Chat podcast, hosted by AFBF President Zippy Duvall, features Ohio Farm Bureau member and Highland County farmer Brandon Fullenkamp. After experiencing his own struggles and seeking help, Fullenkamp has become passionate about discussing the importance of mental health.
After a friend’s many attempts to help Fullenkamp find help to improve his mental well-being, he finally made the decision to talk with a counselor in the area.
“One of the harder things I have ever done in my life is pull into that driveway and park my truck out in front of the place because I didn’t need anyone in the community to think anything was wrong with me,” Fullenkamp told Duvall on the podcast. “It was really the best thing I ever did.”
He is now an advocate for farmers and ranchers across the country – sharing his story and the benefits of mental health services.
“Don’t let the stigma and don’t let fear stop you from seeking help if you think you need it,” Fullenkamp said. “It’s a whole lot easier to get out of a foot-deep hole than it is a six foot deep one.”
You can listen to Fullenkamp’s full conversation with American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall on the Farmside Chat podcast. The episode is also available on YouTube.
Mental health resources are available to farmers at farmstateofmind.org and the 988 national suicide and crisis hotline.
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