The future of farming depends on the health and success of farmers. The public needs farmers and farmers need support from the public — it's a mutual relationship essential to the long-term health of agriculture and humanity.

This is the principle that drew doctoral student Elizabeth Abati to the University of Georgia to advocate for farmer well-being alongside Anna Scheyett, a professor in UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

With prior expertise in communications and agricultural research, Abati chose to pursue her graduate studies at UGA from among six competing universities because she wanted to work with Scheyett supporting the Rural Georgia: Growing Stronger initiative, a comprehensive program from UGA Cooperative Extension addressing rural and farm stress and well-being in rural and agricultural communities.

Advocating for farmer well-being at CAES

Despite her interest in farmer well-being, Abati wasn’t raised in an agriculture-centric environment. Her motivation to work in the industry came from seeing the necessity of farmers and, in contrast, the lack of appreciation they receive from the public.

“I grew up in the biggest city in Nigeria. This is something that everyone needs to care about,” Abati said. “Farmers really matter. It goes back to the public disconnect that we see in agriculture right now. That’s why I’m bringing my communications expertise to the project. I felt like it was the right fit for me, and being someone who actually cares about the well-being of people. I just felt like this was perfect.”

Together with Scheyett, Abati is working to address the often-overlooked mental health challenges farmers face in what Abati describes as the “constant grind” of farming. In addition to regular tasks like planting and harvesting, farms demand maintenance and labor time far exceeding the traditional workday. While many industries promote the concept of work-life balance, for farmers the quest to find equilibrium is nearly impossible. Scheyett refers to this phenomenon as “time poverty.”

“Farmers have horrible time poverty. Those kinds of boundaries that we use to give ourselves mental breaks aren't there for farming. If you're on a farm, you live at your work. You wake up every morning and you look out the window, and if the crop is not doing well, that's the first thing you see,” Scheyett said. “There's not enough time left in the day to do the things that you need to do to have a rich and fulfilling life.”

Underserved farmers face unique struggles

For farmers who have been historically underserved, the effects of farm stress are further amplified. Despite inclusion efforts in the field, modern farmers are still experiencing marginalization that inhibits success. Abati and Scheyett have spoken with minority farmers who shared their unique perspectives.

“We did a number of interviews with different types of producers, a significant subset of whom were African American,” said Scheyett, faculty in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. “We heard a lot about access and difficulty getting access, whether it's to money or to information or to help.”

Although the U.S. has seen dramatic growth in the number of women farmers over the last decade, women in agriculture face some similar barriers to access. Scheyett shared an anecdote from an interview by a fellow researcher in which a woman described her experience of being denied assistance solely because of her gender. 

While the farmer was trying to purchase something, the man she was speaking to repeatedly demanded to speak with her husband and refused to believe she was a farmer, Scheyett recalled the woman saying. The man finally said, “Show me your hands. Let me see you got calluses.”

Building resilience in rural communities

At the upcoming 2025 Farm Stress Summit in Statesboro, Georgia, on March 13, Abati will be sharing resources with attendees while Scheyett facilitates an advocacy panel. Fourth-generation farmer, Air Force veteran and mental health advocate Connie Baptiste will give the keynote address, offering her perspective as a Black woman farmer and how she has overcome obstacles in the field.

To learn more, visit the Rural Georgia: Growing Stronger website.