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By Alice McFarlane

Information for farmers

Humboldt’s first Ag Day dives into important issues

Mar 26, 2026 | 2:44 PM

Mental health, agronomy, and resilience were the central themes of the inaugural event, Ag Day Humboldt. 

Sponsored by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce, producers, chamber members and guests heard from Shari Laventure, one of the directors for Sask Ag Matters.  

Laventure explained the organization started out as a research group, talking to ag producers to find out what supports they had used, what was working, what wasn’t working, what they would like to see.  

“From the research we launched the website and the network where ag producers can go to pick a therapist that they want. Essentially, we have nine therapists. They can pick who they’d like to talk to, and they can reach out to them confidentially. Nobody knows. It’s just them and the therapist,” Laventure said. “We built the site to cater to a need that wasn’t being met currently for ag producers.” 

What makes the service unique is that the first six hours of counselling sessions are free.  

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“Each producer is eligible for six hours of free therapy a year. A usual session is one hour, so that would be six therapy sessions. Sometimes the sessions are two hours, so then they would have four hours left. But Sask Ag Matters pays for six hours per ag producer or family member a year.”  

It resets every calendar year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, and the producer can again access six hours of free counselling. 

The therapists are paid their standard rate. So, where does the money come from? 

“We are 100 per cent by donations. Individuals have given us money, and corporations have given us money. Every year we do a fundraiser. This year we did a lottery draw and raised about $12,000 through it. It was well received, which is great. So yes, we’re totally at the mercy of who gives us money.”  

Sask Ag Matters is always looking for ways to improve the service. Laventure said she hopes, one day, they can be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

“We would love to see this grow to be a 24-hour accessibility and to have people on the other end of the phone line that can maybe do some triage that are trained in assessing risk with whoever’s phoning in,” she added. “Right now, our therapists can do that, but sometimes the therapist can’t see that producer for a day or two or three days. When you’re in crisis, three days is a long time to wait.”  

Laventure said during her presentation that she prefers to use the term mental unwellness, as opposed to mental illness. 

“Because I think the word illness is a negative term. I think it’s perpetuating the stigma. We know that ag producers are very proud and very stoic. They’re fixers by nature. They are self-reliant. They don’t necessarily think getting help is a strength. The help-seeking part to them is a sign of weakness, which it is definitely not,” she said. “We don’t think it’s weak for somebody to go to the gym and work out for two hours. But for whatever reason, the farm mentality is reaching out for help is a sign of weakness. So, I want to get rid of any barrier, any term that will add to that stigma.”  

Laventure said one of the most important things we can all do is to just take a moment to check on people, even the ones that we think are doing OK.  

“Sometimes the happiest person in the room is the one struggling the most. I think as a society, we have to be kinder, and we have to start being more aware of asking questions like, hey, are you doing, OK? Really? Not just taking, Yeah, I’m good. We all do that. We all answer, Yeah, I’m good. Really tell me, are you doing okay? Because I’m willing to listen. I think that conversation is the piece that’s missing.”  

You can go to their website for more information. Laventure said she is personally available to answer questions. 

“You can call me; my number is 306-371-7644. I can direct you; I can answer any questions you have, and I’d love to chat with you.”   

Other presenters included Humboldt Co-op agronomist Jensen Beaudoin, who spoke about uncommon practices that should be common in crop production. Candace Burkhart led a session on wellness and resilience for farmers, their families and supporters. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com