ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) will be hosting three farm couple retreats that will be available to farmers across the state of Minnesota. These farm couple retreats will be open for dairy and other farming entity types.
The dates and locations of the farm couple retreats are January 21-22, 2022, in Faribault, MN at the GrandStay Hotel & Suites (1500 20th Street NW, Faribault, MN 55021), February 4-5, 2022 in St. Cloud, MN at the Country Inn & Suites (235 Park Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301) and February 11-12, 2022 in Thief River Falls at the C’mon Inn (1586 US-59, Thief River Falls, MN 56701).
The purpose of the retreat is to have farming couples come together to enjoy a mini vacation away from the farm with each other. The focuses of the retreat will include communication with your partner, communication with family, relationship building, handling stress, managing personalities, problem solving, action planning, and learning about additional resources. The retreat will also include opportunities to network with other farming couples, short lecture, group activities, and partner exercises.
Monica Kramer McConkey, Rural Mental Health Specialist with MDA will be presenting and facilitating the retreat. Emily Krekelberg, University of Minnesota Farm Safety and Health Extension Educator, Jim Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator – Dairy, and Leah Bischof, Minnesota Dairy Initiative will also be presenting.
Farm couple retreats are limited to the first ten couples that sign up per location. All lodging, meals, refreshments, and materials are included in registration. Farm couple retreats are being supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program award no. 2021-70035-35461 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Please contact Leah Bischof for a registration form and further details regarding the retreats.
MDI helps existing and potential dairy producers succeed through team-based on-farm education, resources and networking. MDI’s mission is energizing a healthy and vibrant dairy industry in Minnesota and is funded by grants administered through the MN Department of Agriculture.
For couples interesting in learning more information or would like to register for a farm couple retreat, please contact Leah Bischof, MDI State Director, at (320) 429-0611 or leahbischof@gmail.com or visit www.mn-dairy-initiative.org/events.
— University of Minnesota Extension