These Sleepy Eye Students were more than happy to receive their wellness kits right before the Thanksgiving Break. Reminding students to take care of themselves and that we have a lot to be thankful for! Pictured l to r – Emma Thibado, Megan Sellner, Kaden Braun, Jace Schauman, Brayden Heiderscheidt, Gavin Fischer, and Shea Evers.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was recently recognized as a grant recipient of the Minnesota FFA Foundation’s Bend, Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness Program. The Bend Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness program is an important program for supporting youth in your local community. This program ensures that our leaders of tomorrow, students and teachers, are being cared for. Minnesota FFA is taking a stand on mental health.

Schools have been in session for a few months now. Students are getting in the groove of balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities. Teachers are creating lesson plans and grading students’ work. However, at times these tasks may become stressful. Stress can lead to mental health concerns. Research shows that every three-in ten students struggle with poor mental health. To support this concern, the Minnesota FFA Foundation has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to promote mental health in Minnesota agricultural education students and teachers.

“We are proud to lend our voice and efforts to the important work of supporting our agricultural community through the Bend Don’t Break program. FFA members have long taken an active role in supporting their community. This program aligns with our efforts to support our schools and communities in the important area of rural mental health. The partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture is a valuable one that reaches beyond the 40,000 students we serve across Minnesota,” shared Val Aarsvold, Executive Director.

This initiative has provided 29 Minnesota FFA chapters with funds to conduct mental health wellness within their school and community. The grant process will encourage FFA chapters to address their community’s mental health wellness needs, respecting that there is no one way to share a message of awareness and available support to those feeling the effects of stress.

The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was selected as a recipient of the Bend Don’t Break Grant. The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter made 300 Wellness Kits that we distributed to every 7-12 student at Sleepy Eye Public as well as our FFA members at St. Mary’s and MVL schools. The kit included the following 10 items: an uplifting quote card and stress ball, fidget keychain, lip balm, tic tacs, mini plush animal, and some treats (rice krispie bar, mini pringles, fruit snacks, m & m’s).

This work is supported by Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program award no. 2021-

70035- 35461 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

For more information or questions on the Minnesota FFA Foundation’s involvement with the Bend, Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness Program, contact Amanda Sommers at 507-461-2214.