TREMPEALEAU COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – Former host of \u201cAround the Farm Table\u201d Inga Orth invited the community to her farm Sunday. For several years, the dairy farmer used Isidore\u2019s Dairy in Trempealeau County to support other local farmers with her annual market. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we have our annual event here at the farm every September where we want to invite the public out to see what\u2019s happening on a working dairy. Today, we are supporting a cause that\u2019s near and dear to my heart, which is the Farmer\u2019s Angel Network,\u201d said Orth. <\/p>\n
She is now using this time to further support farmers on a deeper level. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, today, I am going to auction off all of the clothes I used to wear on Around the Farm Table for that cause. I want to give all the money to the Farmer\u2019s Angel Network. Because, they\u2019re also an organization that helped me out of my own burnout and my own depression,\u201d said Orth. <\/p>\n
The farm life is something Orth believes could grow into a life or death situation. <\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers have traditionally been there supporting everyone, right? We feed you guys three times a day. Right now, what\u2019s happening to farmers is the suicide rate of farmers is skyrocketing. It\u2019s the highest of every profession right now,\u201d said Orth. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy good friend, Leon Stoss, died by suicide in 2018,\u201d said Dorothy Harms, the chair of the Farmer\u2019s Angel Network. <\/p>\n
She has been helping farmers with their mental health for more than six years. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the first efforts was to bring resources to folks. And, just make them aware of what\u2019s available,\u201d said Harms. \u201cWe generally raise about $20,000 a year. In our budget, over $5,000 goes directly to farmers to help them in times of financially need.\u201d <\/p>\n
Donations are appreciated, but there is something priceless Harms wants everyone to do. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe really just ask you to check in on your neighbor every once in a while. Some times you notice things don\u2019t seem quite right. Don\u2019t be afraid to go, hey how are you doing? I care about you,\u201d said Harms. <\/p>\n