Cultivating Resilience: Stories of Strength and Community From the Fields

We all recognize the physical labor of farming, but when do we consider the mental toll of this path?

Farming is much more than just a job, it’s a way of life. A cycle of planting, nurturing, and harvesting that brings both satisfaction and relentless challenges. 

Cultivating Resilience, a podcast by Cultivemos , is dedicated to helping farmers navigate their mental health, and emotional well-being in this job.

There’s one episode in particular we want to share with you today. ‘Resilience/ Resiliencia’, shares three stories of resilience, resourcefulness, and community within the farming world.

But what do we mean when we talk about Resilience? 

Of course, if you’d rather listen right away, here’s the episode:

The Barfields: Pivoting Under Pressure

Matt and Stephanie Barfield are first-generation farmers who run Chesterfield Heirlooms, a farm that specializes in heirloom crops with rich histories and excellent flavors. When COVID hit, their primary market—local restaurants—suddenly vanished. With their income source drying up, they quickly adapted, transforming an old barn into a farm stand in just two weeks.

They called on friends to help rebuild, and move forward. For the Barfields, resilience was the ability to embrace the help of their community, and create space to reconnect.  Plus, being resourceful always helps.

“We may not have the access to flashy equipment, but we use what we have to get it done.”

Farm’s can work at a relentless pace. The Barfields set “non-negotiable” time to step away from work and focus on family. 

As Stephanie shared, “Sunday’s the day—there’s no work, there’s nothing… We truly believe that our time with our kids as kids is limited, so we want to give them as much of us as we can.”

This dedicated time lets the Barfields recharge and maintain perspective. It’s helped them stay focused and avoid burnout, allowing them to keep moving forward even during the hardest moments.

Veterans Jeff Saeli and Anne Devin: Planning and Purpose

Jeff Saeli and Anne Devin, both veterans-turned-farmers, know the value of detailed planning. They apply this to farming, where each decision, from crop planning to long-term goals, is well mapped out. 

For Jeff and Anne, farming isn’t just a new career; it’s a meaningful way to continue their service within their civilian communities. 

They lead programs to help other veterans transition into agriculture, offering support that addresses the unique stresses they face.

Farming offers a therapeutic contrast to the high-stakes, chaotic environment of military service. She sees farming as an ideal pathway for veterans who struggle to transition to civilian life. “If you take a veteran that might be struggling with post-traumatic stress or a traumatic brain injury, going to work for Google or sitting behind a desk is really not appropriate… farming is fantastic.”

Anne and Jeff have developed a framework called the "Five Fs" to help veterans manage stress in agriculture. This addresses farming, family, finance, future (succession planning), and fitness (both physical and mental). 

Anne shared that, for many veterans, having a “next yes” – a new sense of purpose after military service – is essential. “At some point, whatever age you were when you joined the military, you raised your right hand and said yes to serving our country. I think farming allows veterans to say yes again—this time to serving their community.”

Rhyne “Pork Rhyne” Cureton: Self-Awareness and Community

Rhyne Cureton, widely known as “Pork Rhyne” or the “pig evangelist,” has a passion for sustainable pig farming. One he now shares through consultations around the world. 

Why pigs? Well it’s a story rooted in his own journey of self-discovery and resilience.

Rhyne’s relationship with pig farming is not only about his career; it’s somethingthat helped him confront and overcome struggles with depression and addiction. For Rhyne, resilience is built on self-awareness, a supportive community, and the healing power of nature.

As he puts it, farming allows him to “disconnect from things that don’t matter and connect with something that does.” 

Growing up, he loved the outdoors, where he could escape from the stresses of his life. “I used nature as a way of escape. I didn’t have any control of my life… and nature was that space where I could go out into the woods and play with the bugs.” 

This led him to get involved with sustainable agriculture and environmentalism..

In farming, Rhyne found a way to release the need for control, explaining that if he can’t control the land, then he can let go of trying to control other life situations as well.

Beyond his own resilience, Rhyne is building an agricultural community where everyone feels welcomed. One of his greatest joys is telling others that they “have a place in agriculture,” no matter their background or identity. Through his outreach work, he invites people into a space of inclusivity and healing, helping others experience the same peace and purpose he’s found in farming.

Hear More on Cultivating Resilience

Each of these farmers demonstrates that caring for their well-being requires patience, persistence, and a network of support. Their journeys remind us that resilience in farming isn’t just about surviving hardships but also about finding ways to thrive.

Catch more on Cultivating Resilience to hear the stories of farmers who face their struggles head-on and come out stronger. Whether you’re on the farm or not, their lessons on resilience are a powerful reminder that we all have the capacity to grow and adapt, no matter what life throws our way.