HUTCHINSON, Kan. – When you live in Kansas, you know farming isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life, a family legacy, and the heartbeat of our rural communities. But these days, the fields feel heavier, not just with the weight of crops but with burdens many farmers carry in silence. That’s why a new two-part event, Soil and Soul: Growing the Good Life, is coming to Hutchinson, bringing together farmers and the people who support them to find connection, resources, and a little relief.
Pastor Willmar, pastor at Buhler Mennonite Church, knows firsthand how much of Kansas depends on agriculture, both economically and emotionally. When members of his congregation started voicing their struggles, he listened.
“We started hearing from farmers: ‘It just feels heavy out there,’” Pastor Willmar said. Whether it was drought, rising farm debt, or just the feeling that no matter how hard you work the numbers don’t add up, help was needed.
Upon digging deeper, Pastor Willmar and his team found some eye-opening statistics:
- Farmers are 3.5 times more likely than the general population to die by suicide.
- Farm debt is projected to reach $624 billion this year—the highest it’s been in decades.
- Farm bankruptcies are up 70% in the Midwest for the second year in a row.
It was clear: something had to change.
With community support, and a team of like-minded individuals, Pastor Willmar began planning an event with three goals: reduce isolation, connect people with helpful resources, and build resilience for the long haul.
The Two-Part Gathering
First Event: Friday, July 31, Hilton Garden Inn, Hutchinson
Kicking off at 8:30 AM with coffee, donuts, and a chance to mingle, the first session is designed for “frontline” community members—bankers, lenders, implement dealers, agronomists, vets, insurance agents, and co-op employees. Farmers are, of course, welcome too! The program will start at 9:00 AM followed by a free lunch. The focus is on sharing practical resources and strategies for supporting farmers through stress, loss, and difficult transitions.
Second Event: November 14
This event opens up to even more farmers, with keynote speaker Mark Mayfield delivering tools for resilience and growth.
Soil and Soul isn’t about “singing Kumbaya and telling our deepest feelings,” Pastor Willmar chuckled. It’s about building relationships; with the land, with each other, and within ourselves. There’s no quick fix for the stresses of farming. But together, Pastor Willmar hopes to open the conversation, break the isolation, and remind folks: you’re not alone.
Both events are free and open to anyone who wants to attend.
To register, visit buhlerchurch.com.
To hear Pastor Willmar speak more in-depth about the event, visit Ad Astra Radio’s Podcast Page.
