Overview
Our network of We Talk. We Grow. Ambassadors will help communicate and support the mental health and wellness of the farming community in Nova Scotia through the Mental Health Awareness Campaign. With education and training, our Ambassadors will help reduce stigma, increase awareness of the various phases of mental health, and refer those in the community to the available mental health support and resources.
Our Ambassador network will promote We Talk. We Grow. through word of mouth or telling others about the program; will promote the campaign repeatedly; do it at no cost; encourage the use of training, tools, and resources available; and fully and wholeheartedly support the campaign.
Criteria
The We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador has:
- A thorough understanding of the We Talk. We Grow. campaign’s objectives.
- Relationships with those working in the agriculture industry.
- Passion and willingness to talk about mental health.
- The confidence to encourage members of the farming community to use available resources & supports.
- Ability to listen without judgment and provide reassurance.
- Desire to help reduce the stigma around mental health through conversations.
- Desire to promote the We Talk. We Grow. brand in-person, on websites, and in social media.
- Ability to use ongoing mental health literacy training provided by Farm Safety Nova Scotia to facilitate safe conversations and practice self-care.
Objectives
The role of the Ambassador is to:
- Increase education and awareness of mental health and wellness.
- Reduce stigma through continued communication of mental health best practices.
- Empower individuals and organizations to become leaders in promoting mental health and wellness.
- Strengthen relationships with partners to work together to enhance Nova Scotia’s mental health offerings.
- Coordinate delivery of tailored tools, resources and supports for mental health and wellness.
- Reduce stressors negatively impacting mental health and wellness through advocacy and program delivery.
Training
The We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador will attend and participate in:
- A presentation on the We Talk. We Grow. campaign to give Ambassadors a comprehensive understanding of its origins and objectives.
- Annual mental health literacy, customized to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
Materials
- We Talk. We Grow. campaign booklet to show support of the ambassador role.
- We Talk. We Grow. campaign collateral to distribute to the farming community during visits, at meetings, or in conferences.
- Branded gear with Ambassador identification, including a hoodie and a Yeti tumbler.
- Social Media, website graphics and yard sign.
How to Get Involved
Our We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador network is an initiative that’s inclusive and welcoming to all individuals who are passionate about driving positive change within the farming community. There is no formal application process, as our aim is to equip as many committed individuals as possible with the skills needed to kickstart these crucial conversations.
If you or your organization want to join our We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador network, simply reach out to us at info@farmsafetyns.ca to express your interest. Through this initial contact, we can assess whether you meet the outlined requirements and could be a good fit for the program.
Continuing Involvement
As a We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador, you’ll be guided through your role at every step of the way. We’re dedicated to ensuring that our network feels supported, prioritizing their continuous learning and well-being. Ongoing mental health literacy training provided by Farm Safety Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture staff equips Ambassadors with the tools to address challenges effectively. Additionally, our team is readily available to answer questions about the We Talk. We Grow. campaign and provide essential resources related to our programming and supports.
Ambassadors also play a key role in improving our network’s effectiveness by completing surveys and providing feedback, ensuring continuous improvement to better serve both Ambassadors and the farming community.
Meet Our We Talk. We Grow Ambassador Network
Cheryl Ritz
Horticulture Nova Scotia
Cheryl is a dedicated professional specializing in coordinating climate information, facilitating knowledge sharing, and managing projects to aid farmers in strategic decision-making for adaptive practices. She ardently advocates for collaboration, recognizing cross-sectoral efforts as pivotal for effective adaptation.
Raised on a horticulture farm in Manitoba, Cheryl possesses practical insights into vegetable and fruit production from her family’s business. Her commitment to environmental stewardship led her to earn a Renewable Resource Management diploma and a BSc in Environmental Sciences. Additionally, Cheryl brings expertise in food safety on farms through consulting and auditing roles, underscoring her holistic approach to supporting sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
David Newcombe
Cornwallis Farms Ltd.
David Newcombe is the 10th generation of his family to own and operate his family farm. Besides working on his farm, he’s been active in the farming community by sitting on and having leadership roles on several agricultural boards including Farm Safety Nova Scotia, Kings County Federation of Agriculture, Chicken Producers Association of Nova Scotia and Chicken Farmers of Nova Scotia. Over the years of farming, raising a young family, and his time on the Farm Safety NS Board, mental health has become an important issue facing all farmers and something David’s passionate about working on to help the people in our province in the agriculture industry. He is excited to take on this role of We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador and work with a wide range of people to tackle this challenge and help our industry thrive for years to come.
Janice Lutz
Lutz Family Farm
Janice co-owns and manages an apple farm in Rockland Kings County, with her husband, son-in-law and son. She had an off-farm career until 2019, working in agri-food industries including a non-profit (the NS Fruit Growers’ Association), private industry (Sarsfield Foods/Weston Bakeries) and primary production (Bezanson and Chase Cranberry Co.).
Janice has always maintained worker safety as a priority and developed an interest in mental wellness over the past several years. She joined the Board at Farm Safety Nova Scotia in 2021. She has volunteered in other industry organizations and is currently on the executive of the local Womens’ Institute and Community Association.
Kari Brown
Regional Services, NSDA
Kari Brown is an Agriculture Representative with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and is proudly a Professional Agrologist. After nearly a decade of working directly with and supporting the farming community in Nova Scotia, Kari could not imagine doing anything else. She has experience with nearly all aspects of farm business, within all commodities and size operations. Everyday, she feels like she is learning something new from the producers that she works with.
Kari advises on three local county federations and contribute to various committees within the agriculture sector and the communities in which she works. At home, she is a mom to Nora and Louie, and farms alongside her partner, Evan, and his brother, on their grass-based beef, lamb, and egg operation, in Yarmouth.
As an Ag Rep, Kari sees the mental load that farmers and farm families carry. Regardless of commodity or size, from financial uncertainties to unpredictable weather, farming is a high-stress business. There is still a lot of stigmas around mental health within the Ag sector, and in rural Nova Scotia in general, which is why she believes the conversation around mental health is so important. Through Kari’s work as an Ambassador, she wants to help make the farming lifestyle be sustainable – economically, environmentally, and socially – but also mentally.
Jessica D’Entremont
Scotian Gold Cooperative
Jessica D’Entremont is passionate about agriculture. Growing up on a 5th generation mixed farm in the Annapolis Valley (NS) fueled her dedication to supporting the local agriculture industry. Now, as a Sales Agronomist at Scotian Gold Cooperative, she sees firsthand the stresses of the industry, from changing climates to labour issues and rising costs of business. She is committed to helping farmers grow their crops and addressing their well-being.
Margaret Ells
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
Margaret grew up on a mixed farm in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. She attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College where she received her BSc. Agr. with a major in plant protection.
For many years, Margaret lived in Great Village and was self-employed as a caterer while raising her four amazing children. She was the Manager of the Truro Farmers’ Market, President of Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, has many years of involvement in 4-H at the club, county and provincial levels and serves on the Board of the Farm Equipment Museum in Bible Hill. Margaret and two partners own Harvest Collective Market and Mendery, a local food, craft and textile repair shop in Truro. Currently the Training and Awareness Coordinator for the NS Federation of Agriculture, Margaret helps NS farmers with their training needs and requirements, promotes careers in agriculture and supports the NS Young Farmers organization.
Agriculture was always the main topic of conversation around the dinner table and still is today. Many of her family members are active in agriculture, including her daughter and brothers and just try to stop her 90-year-old father!
Margaret recognizes the need and potential for mental health support in agriculture, is open about and willing to share her own challenges with mental wellness, and is keen to help play a role as a We Talk. We Grow. Ambassador.
Patricia Bishop
Taproot Farms
Patricia Bishop farms with her partner, Josh, and farm team in Port Williams, NS, located in Mi’Kma’ki – the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. She received a BSc (Dalhousie University) and a BEd. (Acadia University). She spent a short time teaching in the public school system before she and Josh purchased a farm in 2004. Since then, she has been using her skills and education to grow food and fibre and share it with our community. TapRoot Farms grows a wide range of vegetables, fruit, grains, forages and raises animals. The farm supplies food to a CSA community, Noggins Corner Farm Market locations and markets and various other retail outlets in Nova Scotia. In 2013, Patricia and Josh started growing flax with vision of ‘growing clothes’ on the farm. TapRoot Farms grows flax annually, raises sheep for wool, has a primary processing facility for the flax, and TapRoot Fibre spins both flax and wool in a 24 spindle spinning mill, offering custom processing to producers in the community. Patricia and Josh have three children. Patricia admittedly has struggled with anxiety and depression over the years and feels strongly that sharing, communicating, and supporting each other is very much needed. As farmers and entrepreneurs, it can feel lonely. We need to be there for each other and support healing.
