The Yvonne Lesicko Perseverance Prize recognizes groups or individuals working to find innovative solutions to farmer mental health difficulties. Nominations are due July 31, 2023.
Farm life can be demanding and stressful and the mental health challenges that come with it are an ongoing problem. Ohio Farm Bureau has been a part of many initiatives to raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma surrounding the issue in rural communities. Yvonne Lesicko, former Ohio Farm Bureau vice president of public policy who died unexpectedly in June 2020, was one of the leaders who helped to create the state’s “Got Your Back” farm stress coalition.
The Yvonne Lesicko Memorial Fund was created to recognize her life and career. The fund, within the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, was established to support the causes and initiatives that she cared so deeply about, including farmer mental health.
The Y Prize award, created through the memorial fund, recognizes groups or individuals working to find innovative solutions to farmer mental health issues, including: addressing issues of access to resources, lessening of stigma around mental health issues, and collaborating among health care, rural medicine and agriculture groups.
The Y Prize award recipient, whether an individual or a group, will be given a platform to share their work and efforts. As part of the award, Ohio Farm Bureau will feature and recognize the award recipient in publications and social media, at the state annual meeting (Dec. 7-8, 2023) and during the Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience (Jan. 26-27, 2024). All of this is part of the award’s goal of lessening the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Nominations are being accepted through July 31, 2023.
Learn more about 2022 recipient Ashley Rose.
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