While discussions about agriculture often focus on markets, production and policy, one panel at the 2026 Summer Showcase shifted the spotlight to the people behind the industry. During a session titled “The Human Side of Ag: Strengthening Health, Safety and Resilience,” a panel of leaders from agriculture, healthcare and rural advocacy explored the challenges facing rural communities, including access to healthcare, farmer mental health and the growing difficulty many producers face in obtaining affordable health insurance.
The panel, moderated by Kyle Bauer at KFRM, featured Garrett Hawkins, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and a Missouri farmer; Dr. Ken Woods, president of the Kansas Regenerative Medicine Center; and Sarah Gideon, executive director of the Health Innovations Network of Kansas.
Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health
Sarah Gideon, executive director of a northeast Kansas hospital network, explained that her organization partnered with hospitals, mental health providers, and agricultural groups after recognizing alarming suicide rates in rural communities. “The rate of death by suicide in our farm communities is as high as three and a half times those of our urban partners,” Gideon said. She stressed that producers should not hesitate to seek help before reaching a crisis point. “It’s okay to ask for help,” she said. “I like to think of it as preventative maintenance.” Gideon encouraged producers to treat their own mental health the same way they prepare equipment or livestock before busy seasons, adding that agriculture has always been built on neighbors helping neighbors.
Affordable Health Coverage Helps Keep Farmers on the Land
Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins focused on another major hurdle facing rural families—affordable health insurance. He described how Missouri Farm Bureau developed health plans designed specifically for farmers and ranchers who often struggle to find affordable coverage. Just six months after launching the program, Hawkins said more than 660 lives were already covered. He shared the story of a young farmer who was finally able to return home because of the new coverage. “You’ve changed my wife and I’s life,” Hawkins recalled the young producer telling him. “I’m saving money for better coverage than I’ve ever had… I quit my job and I’m farming full time.” Hawkins emphasized that healthcare should never be the reason someone cannot return to the family farm.
Preventive Care and Telemedicine Offer Rural Solutions
The discussion also highlighted the importance of preventive care and expanding healthcare access. Ken Woods, president and co-founder of the Kansas Regenerative Medicine Center, argued that medicine should focus more on prevention than waiting until people are seriously injured or ill. “We should aggressively do preventive maintenance,” Woods said. “We do it on our equipment… but we don’t do it for our mental health.” Hawkins added that telemedicine offers tremendous potential for rural communities but noted that reliable broadband remains a major obstacle for many small towns trying to expand healthcare services.
Strong Rural Communities Depend on Strong Healthcare
As the discussion concluded, each panelist emphasized that agriculture and rural healthcare are inseparable. Hawkins thanked farm broadcasters for helping tell these stories and reminded the audience that, “We’re all in this together.” He added that bringing young families back to rural America depends on more than just opportunities in agriculture. “You can’t bring the kids home if you don’t have access to quality, affordable healthcare in your communities with people that you trust.” The panel agreed that supporting rural hospitals, improving access to healthcare, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and strengthening rural communities are all essential to ensuring agriculture’s future.
