>> [GAVEL] >> CHAIR POPPE:
>> CHAIR POPPE: I'M GOING TO HAVE EVERYONE TAKE
THEIR SEATS. WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY'S WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET
TO THAT IN THE CLERK WILL
NOTE THE ROLE. WE DO HAVE A CORPORATE WE WILL GET STARTED.
REPRESENTATIVE MORAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THE
MINUTES OF JANUARY
22 AMENDMENT YES MANAGER I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT
>> CHAIR POPPE: ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS
OR CORRECTIONS? I MOVE THE HOUSE DO
NOW ADJOURN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES.] ANY
OPPOSED; NAY THE MOTION PERMITS AND THE MINUTES ARE PROVED.
SO TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH AND TALK ABOUT STRESS
OF FORMING AND WE HAVE A FEW BILLS THAT WE WILL
BE HEARING AS WELL AND WILL HAVE SOME TESTIMONY
FOR THAT.
THE REPAIRMAN OF AGRICULTURE
IS GOING GOING TO SET THE STAGE FOR US TODAY
FOR ALL OF US WE'VE
HEARD ABOUT THE AG ECONOMY AND HOW THINGS ARE IMPACTING PEOPLE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES
AND THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE
HEARD ABOUT RURAL MENTAL
HEALTH; SUICIDE; DEPRESSION
; ACCIDENTS; MANY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THERE IMPACTING FARMERS
AND PRODUCERS. SO TODAY WE WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME ON
THAT. CERTAINLY; TUESDAY SET THE STATE AS WELL WHEN WE
HEARD ABOUT DAIRY
FARMERS AND HEARD ABOUT HOW THINGS
ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THAT SECTOR OF
AGRICULTURE; BUT
WE HAVE THE ENTIRE SECTOR
OF AGRICULTURE FEELING SOME STRESS AND SOME
ANXIETY AROUND A VARIETY OF THINGS. SO TODAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ADDRESS THAT SOMEWHAT. WERE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PASSING BILLS TODAY BUT WE WILL BE HEARING THE BILLS AND LAYING THEM OVER BECAUSE
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE D
OING IS COMPREHENSIVE OF AN APPROACH AS WE CAN
AND WE WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT QUICKLY BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE START TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES TODAY. ONE OF
THOSE ISSUES IS
RELATED TO RURAL MENTAL HEALTH WE'VE HAD
TED MATTHEWS AND THE OTHER FARM ADVOCATES WERE CONCENTRATED ON THOSE TWO TODAY. SO; FOR THE
INITIAL PRESENTATION I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE A MISSION ARE TOM
PETERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND MAKE
[INAUDIBLE] AND COME TO THE TABLE AND SET THE STAGE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT
THE DEPARTMENT
POSITION AS WELL ON THIS. SO; WELCOME TO
THE COMMITTEE AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN
BEGIN. COMMISSIONER.
>
> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR MEMBERS MY NAME IS TOM PETERSON. I'M THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
FOR THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE. THANK YOU FOR
HOLDING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
HEARING TODAY. THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE FOR ME.
HAVING WORKED FOR FARMERS UNION FOR MANY
YEARS AND MET WITH HIS COMMITTEE OVER THE
YEARS ON FROM HER LETTER
MEDIATION ON THE FARM ADVOCATE PROGRAM ON
THE COUNSELING BUT I THINK
EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS
THIS ISSUE HAS RISEN TO
THE TOP. WE PUT THE BILLS FORWARD LAST YEAR AS
A COMMUNITY AND BEEN
HANGING ON FOR A WHI
LE AND I COULD JUST TELL YOU; I KNOW A LOT OF FARMERS COULD I GET A LOT
OF CALLS
AND THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR WERE EXCEPTIONALLY HARD FOR ME PERSONALLY
. SOME OF THE FARMERS I THOUGHT THEY'LL NEVER BE IN TROUBLE. AND I THINK
OF REALLY JUST PEOPLE THAT I THINK OF IT ALTOGETHER AND THEY
TAKE CALLS HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
SO I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT
WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
ISSUE TODAY. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT
REALLY QUICK; TO THAT; I
AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THAT APARTMENT
AS I'VE GONE INTO IT. I THINK
THAT APARTMENT BEGINNING WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS REALLY
STEPPED UP TO WORK ON
THIS EFFORT AND REALLY PLEASED TO
BE YOUR
WITH MEG. I THINK MEG IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE
THIS JOB BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT BEEN ABLE TO VISIT WITH MEG BEFORE; SHE JUST BRINGS A LOT
AND IS A GREAT ASSET TO HAVE AT
THAT APARTMENT AT THIS POINT HUNDRED
MAKE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE BUT
I ALSO SAY TO YOU
AS LEGISLATORS;
YOU ARE GOING TO GET THOSE CALLS; TOO. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE AND WE WANT YOU
TO KNOW THE RESOURCES
THAT ARE THERE AND WE ARE READY
TO HELP. I'M GLAD TO H
AVE TED MATTHEWS HERE
TODAY; TO I TOOK A REALLY TOUGH CALL PLAYED AROUND
CHRISTMAS TIME FROM
A FARMER AND I HAD A
HARD TIME WHEN I GOT DONE TALKING TO HIM. I WAS
LIKE REALLY -- IT WAS
INTERESTING BECAUSE TWO MINUTES LATER TED WAS
MY NEXT INTAKE CALLED ME SO I
WAS LIKE IT WAS ACTUALLY
KIND OF COUNSEL ME FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE I JUST GONE
THROUGH THIS. I COULD JUST
TELL YOU
IF HE GETS UP YOUR THE WORK HE DOES IS VERY IMPORTANT. LAST THING BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MEG AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE FARM ADVOCATES AFTER MEG; THE FARM BILL RECENTLY
PASSED REPRESENTATIVE AMBER AND
SEN. SMITH WORKED REAL
HARD TO PASS THE STRESS ACT AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT IS
THE LANGUAGE COMES TOGETHER IN SOME OF
THE FUNDING AND WITH
THE ACTION THAT YOUR COMMITTEE
MAY TAKE MAY ALSO PUT US IN
A POSITION TO EVENTUALLY LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS AS WELL. SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU
GO FORWARD.
>> CHAIR POPPE: THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER PERIOD. >> TESTIFIER: GOOD MORNING MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MEG [INAUDIBLE] A SENIOR ADVISOR AT THE VARMINT OF AGRICULTURE.
[INAUDIBLE] I APPRECIATE OF THE ONE WAS ESPECIALLY FOR MY NEW BOSS. SOME YOU KNOW
ME AS A BENEVOLENT DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND I'VE STARTED MY LIFE AS [INAUDIBLE] FOR MANY YEARS I DID THAT.IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS
MICHAEL HAS CHANGED AND I WOULD JUST TELL YOU BRIEFLY THAT SOME OF THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF
ALSO A FARMER. I AM A DAIRY FARMER.
HUSBAND AND I MILK ABOUT 70 COWS
IN [INAUDIBLE]
2016 THAT RESULTED IN ME TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENC
E WHEN THAT PART OF OUR CULTURE AND BECOMING A FULL-TIME FARMER WHICH IS PART OF
THE CHALLENGE FOR A GIRL WHO GREW UP IN MILWAUKEE AND WITH A WHOLE LOT
OF EXPERIENCE
GETTING [INAUDIBLE] AT 15BELOW ZERO. I
HAD SOME REAL PERSONAL CHANCE BE I WILL TELL YOU; DURING
THAT TIME.
THAT TOOK ME TO COUNSELING. IT TOOK ME TO
FROM ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND IT ALSO BROUGHT ME INTO CONTACT WITH MY
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE I FOUND OUT WERE IN VERY SWAY SHAPES AND FORMS GOING TO THE
SAME THING.
IT WAS REALLY AN UNFORTUNATE POSITION TO COME BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT WITH
THAT EXPENSE
[INAUDIBLE] I CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS SO SUPPORTIVE AND RECOGNIZES THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
GOING THROUGH.
YOU ARE AWARE WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUSLY LOW PRICES ACROSS THE SECTOR FOR FARMERS
FOR AT LEAST THE PAST THREE YEARS BUT IT REALLY HARD TO KEEP OUR HEADS ABOVE
. IN ADDITION TO THAT THAT'S WHERE ON TOP OF WHAT I SEE AS SO MANY STRESSORS AND CHALLENGES
THAT ARE JUST PART OF THE NATURE
OF FARMING AND THE ANSWER IN.
THE WEATHER; NEW
INSURANCE; [INAUDIBLE] AN EXTRA HOUR IN
THE MORNING. MANY OF
THESE FACTORS. LAST YEAR
WE TALKED TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING SOME
OF US ABOUT THE PRESSURES
OF REGULATION AND THAT HAPPENS
AS WELL. SO THE BREATH OF EXPENSE
COMMERCE IS IT WHEN YOU ARE
HEARING FROM MORE IS
THERE CONCEPTIONS WE ARE HEARING
FROM FARMERS. WE ARE HEARING FROM
ADVOCATES ANDEXTENSION EDUCATORS AND LENDERS WERE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE FARMERS THAT IMPACT ON
FARM FAMILIES [INAUDIBLE] RURAL SECTOR THE ENTIRE GLOBAL ECONOMYTHAT CONNECT THESE
THINGS. SO I WOULD JUST TELL YOU A FEW THINGS
GOING ON AT OUR DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT
START BY [INAUDIBLE] LET'S DEVELOP
A PROGRAM. WE JUST STARTED
DOING STUFF. WE LOOKED
AROUND TO SEE WHAT EXISTING SOURCES
OF SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDED THAT SOME OF OUR PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDED AND
REALLY PUT OUR EFFORTS INTO
[INAUDIBLE] AND MAKING THEM EASY AND SIMPLE AND NAVIGABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR
FARMERS. SO TO GET
THEM TO SOURCES OF SUPPORT; SOMETIMES IT'S MORAL SUPPORT
IS WHAT'S CRITICAL. SOMETIMES IT'S FINANCIAL. SOMETIMES
IT'S ILLEGAL. YOU ALL HAVE A COUPL
E OF BROCHURES IN FRONT OF YOU. ONE OF HIS BUT THE FARM ADVOCATES PROGRAM WAS THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT A BIT BUT THE
OTHER IS COPING WITH AURORAL STRESS IN MINNESOTA AND I THINK THAT SHOWS YOU ON HOW WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE
DOING PROGRAMS
WE OFFER BUT WE ALSO OF EXTENSION PROGRAMS IN THERE.
MINNESOTA STATE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAMS FARMERS LEGAL ACTION GROUP.REALLY
A COLLECTION
OF RESOURCES AND THESE ARE THE
SAME THING MINNESOTA FARM STRESS.COM
WEBSITE. THERE'S NO COMPARTMENT
COMPARTMENTALIZATION OR OWNERSHIP OR FIEFDOM HERE. IN FACT I GET
CALLS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY. I WAS ON PHONE CALL WITH
THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL LAST WEEK
[INAUDIBLE] WAS ON A CALL AS WELL AND THEY SAID HOW
IS IT THAT WE DO ALL THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN MINNESOTA TO
SUPPORT FARMERS. HOW ARE YOU
ABLE TO PULL IT TOGETHER
AND FUNDED? HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
I SAID; WE JUST STARTED DOING
STUFF AND WE HAVE THIS
TRADITION OF LOT WORKING TOGETHER AND WERE NOT VERY [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT THINGS AND
I BELIEVE THAT SERVES AS WELL AND WE INTEND TO CONTINUE ALONG
THOSE LINES. I THINK ONE
GOOD EXAMPLE OF AN APPROACH WE TAKE IN TERMS OF CONNECTIONS
AND EXPANDING
OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN A POSITION 12 FARMERS AND RECOGNIZE WHAT'S GOING ON AND ASSIST
IS THAT WORKSHOP WE DID LAST YEAR CALLED; DOWN ON THE
FARM; [INAUDIBLE]
FARMERS AND STRESSFUL TIMES AND THAT SOMETHING WE
PUT TOGETHER WITH HELP OF TED MATTHEWS; MINNESOTA
SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION MINNESOTA [INAUDIBLE] ASSOCIATION AND
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BEST POSITION
12 FARMERS ARE THE PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND
TRUST. SO; WE DELIVERED
THIS PROGRAM AND SIX LOCATIONS
CHAIR POPPE WAS AT OUR MANKATO LOCATION AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE
AND RESPOND WHEN YOU SEE FARMERS IN TROUBLE
. WE ATTRACTED 475 PEOPLE TO THAT
TRAINING FROM ALL KINDS
OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF
EXPERTISE. THE RIVER FALLS IS A
GOOD EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE SOIL CONSERVATION; FARM LENDERS;
FARM MEDIATORS; FARM MANAGEMENT
INSTRUCTORS; NURSES; WE DO COUNTY COMMISSIONER. WITH A VETERINARIAN. ALL COMING TOGETHER SAYING; YES; I HAVE SEEN MY FARMER STRUGGLE WHEN I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP THEM.
WHAT IS IT I CAN DO? THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE ARE WORKING ON BUILDING OFF THE PROGRAM AND OFFER THAT. BUT WITHOUT IT WAS; ENGAGE
PEOPLE LOCALLY BUT ALSO INTRODUCE THOSE PEOPLE TO
EACH OTHER SO THEY COULD BEGIN TO FEEL
THEY WERE
WEAVING A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR FARMERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A MINNESOT
A FARM ROLE HEALTH AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER [INAUDIBLE] BUT SOMETIMES [INAUDIBLE] IT'S EASIER TO TALK TO SOMEONE THAT
YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT
IT RATHER THAN SOMEONE YOU DO KNOW WHEN THAT HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IT'S FREE OF CHARGE BUT IS
CONFIDENTIAL AND IT HAS THREE CIVIL OPTIONS
THE FARMER FROM FAMILY MEMBER OR SUMMONS WORRIED ABOUT A FARMER MAY CALL
AND SEE NEED SOME EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SO THE FIRST OPTION IS A DIRECT CONNECTION FIRST CALL FOR HELP ITASCA WITH WHOM
WE CONTRACT TO
LIVE TRAIN COUNSELORS WHO CAN HELP FARMERS OR ANY OF THE COLORS
WORK THROUGH
THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS THEY
ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE
SECOND OPTIONIS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF DAILY LIVING CAN WE KNOW THAT
SOMETIMESIN REVENUES ARE DOWN
FOOD IS SCOPE THE ARNO OF FARMERS GOING HUNGRY. WE KNOW
THERE ARE FARMERS WORRIED ABOUT
THEIR PARENTS
AND NEEDED SAFE CARE FOR THEM OR FOR CHILDREN
IN DAYCARE ALL THE SUDDEN
HOUSE HAS TO WORK OFF THE FUNK I FIND A CURE FOR THE KIDS WAS CAN HAPPEN TO THEM?
SO THAT'S[INAUDIBLE] AT THE
2011 SERVICE IN THE REGION IF
THEY PUSH THAT NUMBER AND THE THIRD;
WE KNOW SOME OF THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUES
OUR FINANCIAL BUSINESS AND LEGAL SO PRESSING THAT
OPTION TAKES COLORS RIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE DURING BUSINESS
HOURS AND
MATT MCDEVITT IS THAT THE ROLE FINANCE AUTHORITY ENTERED OUTLINE AND HELP PEOPLE FIND DO THEY NEED AN EXTENSION FROM FINANCIAL COUNSELOR DO THEY NEED AN ATTORNEY; HOW IS IT WE CAN HELP
THEM NAVIGATE? WE ARE WORKING RELATIVELY A
NEW EFFORT BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUTIS
HELPING NETWORK
AGRICULTURE COMMUNICATORS. WHO HAVE
A LICENSE TO THEIR
OWN CONSTITUENCIES
SO WE ARE BETTER AT COORDINATING
AND SHARING AND AMPLIFYING SOME OF THESE
REALLY SENSITIVE MESSAGES
AND TOPICS. WE BELIEVE THAT
HAVING A DIVERSE ARRAY OF
VOICES IS TALK ABOUT
THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT AFFIRMATIVE AGRICULTURE DOES NOT NEED TO BOARD ABOUT FARM STRESS. SOME PEOPLE
PUT THEIR [INAUDIBLE] AND COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE WE CERTAINLY USES VOICE BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT FIND A STATEMENT BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE FARM BUREAU MORE CREDIBLE OR A BOARD MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS. WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT
WE ARE
SHARING THE WORK OF GETTING THE MESSAGES OUT IN A
SUPPORTIVE WAY. I JUST WANT TO SHARE COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING BECAUSE I THINK
THAT MAYBE YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THEM
AS I'M ONE IS A RADIO OUTREACH PROJECT THAT WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH DON WICK IN THE RED RIVER FROM THE WORK WHICH IS MOST OF
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
[INAUDIBLE] AND ONE STATION IN
SOUTH DAKOTA. WE ARE PUTTING
TOGETHER SOME PAID PRIMETIME
SHORT FEATURES TO EXPLORE
FARM STRESS AND COP
ING MECHANISMS THIS IS ON GLOOM AND
DOOM BUT WHAT ARE SOME PATHS TO SUCCESS
; WHAT ARE SOME PATHS TO RESOLUTION
TO DECISION-MAKING.
WE ARE EMPHASIZING FARM VOICES AND LOCAL VOICES. THIS IS NOT
NATIONAL EXPERTS WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE
TO HEAR SOME FOLKS THEY BEEN WATCHING IN THEIR
OWN COMMUNITIES AND WE
ARE REPEATING TERRAIN [INAUDIBLE] NOT SEEKING THEM
AT MIDNIGHT AS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT'S PAID ON TIME
WHEN SHOWTIME; WORKING IN THE
SHOP TIME;
YOUR TIME; SO FARMERS ARE MOST LIKE TO HEAR THEM TALK ABOUT IT WITH EACH OTHER. WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT YOUTH. FARM IN
RURAL YOUTH. DOWN ON THE FARM PROGRAM TARGETS PEOPLE
WHO WORK WITH ADULT FARMERS BUT FARM KIDS ARE GOING TO EXACTLY WHAT THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH AND EVEN LESS ABLE TO MAKE SENSE OF IT. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH A THERAPIST WHO HAS DEEP BACKGROUND BUT ALSO A
LICENSE CONSULAR TO
PUT TOGETHER LIKE A MINI
DOWN ON THE FARM THE
PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] SO WE ARE THINKING
YOUTH PASTORS; YOUTH LEADERS
FOR EACH
FA LEADERS CLASSROOM TEACHERS K-12 SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE
AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY IF
THEY SEE
FARM AND RULE KIDS WHO ARE EXHIBITING SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND WHAT I CAN DO
ABOUT THAT.
THESE EFFORTS I WANT YOU TO KNOW HAVE BROUGHT
US INTO SOME REMARKABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES THAT I PERSONALLY FOUND IT REALLY GRATIFYING.
WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH WE ARE WORKING
WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A SUICIDE AWARENESS AND
PREVENTION TRAINING THAT IS TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TOWARD
AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THOSE COMPETENCIES
OUT THERE; THOSE VOICES. WE
ARE ALSO CHAIR POPPE MENTION
I BELIEVE
[INAUDIBLE] EARLIER. WE ARE STARTING A PROJECT WITH THEM
OUR MONEY THEIR EXPERTISE; TO EXAMINE EXISTING VIOLENT DEATH DATA IN THE STATE AND GET A
BETTER HANDLE ON HOW
MANY FARMERS HAVE BEEN FARMER
SUICIDES BECAUSE THAT
REPORT IS VERY INCONSISTENT COUNTY TO COUNTY AND WE EV
EN FIND HIS TRUE NATION LIKE IT NOBODY REALLY HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON HOW TO CAPTURE THIS INFORMATION TO WE THINK WITH BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT THAT
WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DEVELOP SOME PREVENTION INTERVENTION STRATEGIES MAY
WORK BETTER THAN WE
CERTAINLY HOPE WILL WORK BETTER.
WITH MNSCU OLD
RELIABLE PARTNER; LOOK FOR THE FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SO
MANY YEARS IN SUPPORT OF THEM BUT WERE ALSO WORKING WITH THEM TO CREATE
A CURRICULUM BASED ON THAT DOWN ON A FARM PROGRAM WHICH I EXPLAINED
SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN USE THAT. SO THEY CAN USE THAT IN HER OWN INDUSTRY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THE LITTLE
TEAM OF TED AND ME AND RANDY FROM THE
SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION CAN'T KEEP TRAVELING AROUND AND DOING THIS OVER AND OVER. THE PEOPLE CAN DO IT FOR THEMSELVES AND SO WE ARE
PUTTING TOGETHER A RECIPE SO THEY CAN DO THAT.
AT THAT APARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES; THAT'S AN AGENCY I DON'T KNOW WE REALLY EVER WORKED WITH VERY
MUCH BUT PARTNERS
VERY EXCITED ABOUT HELPING US LEARN ABOUT
HUMAN SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN RURAL AREAS THAT WE
CAN HELP CONVEY THAT INFORMATION
TO FARMERS IF THEY NEED HELP WITH THAT; BUT ALSO
INVITING US TO PROVIDE TRAINING
AND SUPPORT IN WHAT IS A FARM CULTURE; WHAT IS THE
FARM CONCEPT
IN HELPING STAFF AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM'S SORT OF
UNDERSTAND WHY THE FARM POPULATION MAY BE A
LITTLE DIFFERENT
IN SOME GOOD WAYS BUT ALSO SOME
CHALLENGING WAYS FOR THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. THEN; FINALLY WE HAVE SOME
OLD CHESTNUTS THAT I THINK HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT AND CONTINUE TO BE CRITICAL
. ONE OF THOSE IS THE MINNESOTA FARM
ADVOCATE PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN
AROUND SINCE 1934 WITH THE
SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE DURING
THIS TIME IN THE COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
>> CHAIR POPPE:
YES; COMMISSIONER
>> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR REAL QUICKLY ON THE FARM
ADVOCATE PROGRAM
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE 10 ADVOCATES AROUND THE STATE
. THEIR NAMES ARE IN A BROCHURE.
MANY TIMES THE ADVOCATES ARE
FARMERS THEMSELVES AND I WAS THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I;
-- I THINK ABOUT LAST SUMMER I WAS AT
A PICNIC JUST TO TELL YOU HOW
THIS WORKS. AN OLDER FELLOW THAT I KNOW WAS 85 YEARS OLD
AND HE WANTED TO TALK TO ME AND
HE SAID; TOM; HE SAID I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY SON
. HIS SON IS 50 AND I WAS THINK
ABOUT THAT. ALWAYS KIND OF
A DOUBT EVEN AT 85. BUT IT
WAS REALLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE HE SAID WORRIED ABOUT
MY SON. HE SAID I THINK YOU THINK ABOUT THIS AND
I THOUGHT HIS DAIRY FARMER AND
I THOUGHT
HE SAID WHAT CAN WE DO FOR HIM. THIS WAS LIKE A
SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I
SAID WELL WE HAVE RESOURCES AND I SAID I
THOUGHT ABOUT [INAUDIBLE
] ADVOCATE AND WE GOT HIS NUMBER AND HE CALLED HIM
THAT AFTERNOON. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE. IT TURNED OUT HE WAS 10
MILES AWAY.
THEY KNOW THE FARMER KNEW THE ADVOCATE AND THAT HAPPENS
A LOT. A LOT OF TIMES WE WOULD DO THAT.
I'M GLAD TO SAY
THAT FARMER I KNOW HE'S NOT DAIRY ANYMORE BUT HE STILL FARMING AND WHAT THEY
DO IS
THEY ARE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM I SEE RIGHT NOW BANKRUPTCIES; TO GET A LOT OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. SOMETIMES THE ADVOCATES; THE FARMER WILL HAVE AN IDEA IN THE BACK OF
THEIR MINDS AND JUST TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM
AND GET IN THERE IS REALLY HELPFUL. SO
WE HAVE IS MEG SAID; WE HAVE
10 ADVOCATES THAT THE ADVOCATES PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FOR
MINNESOTA FARMERSWHO FACE CRISIS EITHER BY
NATURAL DISASTER OR BY
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. THE FARM ADVOCATES;
THEY HAVE ATTAINED EXPENSE IN AGRICULTURE
LEARNING PROCESS. FARM MEDIATORS KNOW THEM.
VERY IMPORTANT FARM COUNSELORS
KNOW THEM. SO; I THINK THAT
-- MAY HAVE A NETWORK
OF ATTORNEYS AND ACCOUNTANTS IN DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS. SO THEY ARE JUST REALLY ABLE TO HELP A LOT. WE SERVE TO AN AND 42 FARMERS
LAST YEAR AND YOU
THINK ABOUT MY NEW ROLE I'M THINKING WE
WANT TO HAVE EVERYBODY THAT ONCE
TO FARM CONTINUE TO FARM. SO I WOULD JUST SAY; TOO; AS WE LOOK AT THIS IN 2017 WE DID INCREASE THE BUDGET BY $20;000
PER YEAR BY TALKING TO - SORRY
- [INAUDIBLE]
WAS ONE OF THE ADVOCATES WE INVITED HER TO TALK TO CONNIE LAST WEEK AND I ASKED HER HOW
IT'S GOING AND HOW BUSY YOU ARE AND SOME ADVOCATES ARE MORE BUSY THAN
OTHERS BUT
CONNIE AND TALKING TO MATT ON THE STAFF; WHEN
THEY ARE
-- WHEN THEY WERE PAST THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME; THEY STILL TAKE THE CALLS. SO THEY DON'T
SAY; SORRY AND SO I THINK THAT
IS IMPORTANT. SOMETHING
TO CONSIDER AN EXAMPLE I GAVE.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THE PITCH;
TOO; THAT IS IMPORTANT
FOR ME AND I SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A MUCH
REALLY INCREASED A LOT OF THE EFFORT WE HAVE
FOR FARM GROUPS THAT RELATE
TO MAKE TO THE AD
COMMUNICATORS BUT I ASK YOU; TOO; TO HELP AS WELL AS LEGISLATORS WHEN YOU DO
YOUR UPDATE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE PUTTING THE PIECES OUT THERE
ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF
YEAR; JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE
TOUGH TIMES AND HOW THE AD GROUPS DO AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THOSE RESOURCES OUT THERE. SO; THANK YOU. >> CHAIR POPPE: THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS AT
THIS POINT? ALL RIGHT;
THANK YOU. >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU >> CHAIR POPPE:
REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON >> REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON: THANK YOU;
MME. CHAIR. AS TO THE WORK
YOU DO; THE PROGRAMS ARE
BADLY NEEDED. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. YOU
MENTIONED IT RED RIVER NETWORK
WHICH IS REGION BY THE STATE WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE STATE
FOR EXAMPLE ARE YOU TRYING TO
EXPAND THAT >> TESTIFIER:
MME. CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE STARTED THIS IS A PILOT.
WAS FORTUNATE TO SECURE SOME FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE SEE IF THAT EVER APPEARS BUT
[INAUDIBLE] HIM SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND I THINK
THE IDEA IS TO TRY THIS
WITH THE WORK THE BUGS OUT AND IF WE CAN FIND THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT
TO
EXPAND IT TO BE WONDERFUL TO COVER
THE STATE. WE ARE INTENDING TO SHARE THIS
BROADCAST BUT ALSO MAKE IT
AVAILABLE THROUGH WEBSITES TO
RED RIVERTO OUR OWN SO IT'S AVAILABLE
MORE BROADLY AND ONE THING I NEGLECTED TO MENTION IS IN ADDITION TO
THESE SHARED SHORT RADIO PIECES; WILL
ALSO BE A LITTLE MORE
IN DEPTH PODCAST THAT GOES
WITH IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHEN YOU'RE DOING FARM WORK
LISTEN TO PODCASTS AND MAYBE A WAY TO GO A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH. SO
I APPRECIATE YOUR POINTING THAT OUT AND I THINK IT'S A TERRIFIC IDEA
SEE HOW WE CAN COVER MORE OF THE STATE.
THANK YOU. >> CHAIR ANDERSON:
REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON >> REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON: THANK YOU; MME. CHAIR.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCOPE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU
REACH OUT ANY IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF ITEMS COMING IN ON THE OUTLINE;
THINGS LIKE THAT? WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITY ARE
WE SEEING? >> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON COME I DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS. SINCE
THE BEGINNING OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR STARTING IN JULY; WE HAVE HAD
16 CALLS TO THE
CRISIS LINE.. PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE UP
TO THAT EVENTUALLY CONTRACT WITH FIRST CALL CENTER HEALTH AND ITASCA PROMOTIONAL COUNSELING THEN; OUR STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN 17 CALLS ABOUT THE FARM
BUSINESS FINANCIAL AND
LEGAL QUESTIONS AND NEEDING HELP WITH THAT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR
TO DATE. >> CHAIR POPPE:
ALL RIGHT. OKAY; THANK YOU. I AM
GOING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND
REPRESENTATIVE BRAND --.
>> CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE HOPPE WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE YOUR BILL
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I WOULD. IF I COULD MOVE HOUSE
FILE 232 IN THIS BILL IS A
BILL THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE SIGNED
ON TO. IT IS TO TAKE THE
CURRENT YEAR AN INCREASE
IN FUNDING IN THE TWO AREAS
THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE FARM ADVOCATES IN THE RURAL MENTAL HEALTH
SO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUES AS WE JUST HEARD
CERTAINLY IT'S A SITUATION THAT
IS DIRE AND
NEEDS ATTENTION. SO WE ARE WANTING
TO ADDRESS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. I THINK
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS
THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS TO TRY
TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS
RIGHT NOW. THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL
NEEDS WE HAVE GOING ON AND
THROUGH OUTREACH
ADVOCACY MEDIATION;
SUPPORT AND EXPORT CAN BE EMOTIONAL;
FINANCIAL; LEGAL AND SO TODAY; NEXT WEEK WE WILL ALSO BE
HEARING ABOUT FLAG THE LEGAL ACTION
GROUP AND WE WILL BE HEARING
FROM FARMER LENDER MEDIATORS AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THAT. CERTAINLY;
WE HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TODAY FROM MS.
-- ABOUT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS
DOING ALREADY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS. SO
I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH
KIND OF A
GLOBAL SOLUTION. SO WE ARE OPEN TO IDEAS AND THOUGHTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
DOING THINGS AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN. TODAY ALTHOUGH WE ARE LAYING OVER BILLS WE ARE ANTICIPATING WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING
THESE ISSUES
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE
ABLE TO PRESENT THE BILL TODAY AND I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE KIEL
HAS
HER BILLS THAT WE WILL BE HEARING ABOUT TODAY AS WELL. SO
I THINK IT'S A SOBERING
ISSUE AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING IT. SO THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY. SO I AM GOING
TO ASK
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUT START WITH MY GOOD FRIEND TED
MATTHEWS.. I'VE KNOWN TED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I
ACTUALLY WORKED AS A
COLLEGE COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT WAS
MY INTERACTIONWITH TED
BEGAN BECAUSE I WORK
WITH SOME [INAUDIBLE]
INSTRUCTORS AND WAS AT A CONFERENCE WORKSHOP THAT
THEY HELD THAT INTRODUCE ME
TO TED
AND THIS IS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. SO
I'VE ASKED HIM TO COME. I KNOW HE IS
THE PERSON IN THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA THAT DOES RURAL MENTAL HEALTH
AND AS A NO COST TO OUR FARMERS
AND PRODUCERS; FARM FAMILIES;. HE'S ON THE PHONE OR ON THE ROAD
CONTINUOUSLY. SO EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. I KNOW HE IS
TALKED ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] THIS SATURDAY-SUNDAY ISSUES THE COMMISSION WAS TALKING ABOUT;
TED IS AVAILABLE IN MEETING
WITH PEOPLE.SO I'M GOING TO
ASK; TED; GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF
INDICATION FOR WHAT THINGS ARE LIKE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT THE
NEEDS ARE.
>> TESTIFIER: THANK
YOU; COMMISSIONER. THE NEEDS. ONE OF
THE THINGS
PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS FARMERS DON'T
THINK LIKE THE REST OF
THE WORLD. WE TRY TO GET GROUPS TO
HELP FARMERS WHEN THEY
THINK INDIVIDUALLY. WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL FARM. THEIR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY WHETHER INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY AND TO
GET THEM TO HEAR AND
LOOK AT OUTSIDE SOURCES; YOU HAVE TO GO
TO THEM. YOU CAN'T
EXPECT THEM TO GO TO YOU. THEY JUST DON'T
DO IT. SO THE BEST WAY THAT I
KNOW OF IS TO GET THEM TO
KNOW YOU AND BY
DOING THAT GOING TO GROUPS WHERE YOU TALK
TO FARMERS AND EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN FARMING OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THE SAME THING.
IF
YOU IDENTIFY FARMING 50 YEARS AGO TO A GROUP RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I LOVE YOU; IMAGINE GOING BACK IN TIME 50 YEARS
; GOING INTO A RESTAURANT
WHERE ALL MALES ARE SITTING TALK
ABOUT FARMING AND
YOU SAY; YET BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION
IN BOLIVIA. THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT. NOW; ALL OF A SUDDEN;
WE HAD COMPETITION ALL OVER
THE WORLD AND FARMING HAS CHANGED
TOTALLY. SO WOMEN ON
THE FARM; AYE CAN I STRESS THIS ALL THE TIME; WOMEN ON
THE FARM IS THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN FARMING OVER THE LAST 5000 YEARS. IF FOR EVER
A WOMAN'S ROLE WAS TO RAISE
LITTLE FARMERS AND TO DO EVERYTHING INSIDE THE HOUSE.
NOW THEY WORK OFF
THE FARM AND THEY DO
THE BOOKS AND IF YOU DO
THE BOOKS YOU HAVE AN OPINION THAT OPINION IS GOING
TO BE WHY WE NEED TO GET A JOHN DEERE; WHAT YOU NEED TO GET ANYONE WHY CAN'T WE GET A USED ONE ON AND ON BUT ALL THOSE POSSIBILITIES AND
I THINK TWO HEADS ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN ONE BUT BECAUSE THAT'S A
NEW CONCEPT IT'S DIFFICULT. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUR GRANDPARENTS HOW THEY
DID IT AS THEY DO NOT DO IT
THAT WAY. THE SITUATIONS ARE DIFFERENT SO EVERYTHING
IN FARMING IS CHANGING AND
CHANGING FAST AND THE STRESS
ON FARMS; THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A TON OF STRESS ON FARMERS AND
NOW THERE'S STRESSES THAT WE
CAN CONTROL. LIKE; RIGHT NOW; THERE'S TOO MUCH MILK. WHAT WE DO WITH THAT? WHAT DO
WE DO? WHAT DO THEY DO? MEN AND WOMEN
THIS
MAY SHOCK ALL OF YOU; BUT MEN AND WOMEN DON'T THINK ALIKE AND THEY DON'T TALK LIKE.
SO WHEN MEN
AND WOMEN ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER ONE OF THE BIG
PROBLEMS IS; IF
A MAN FEELS STRESSED IN GENERAL
HE IS GOING TO PULL BACK YOUR IS GOING TO TALK LESS.
A WOMAN WANTS TO TALK IT THROUGH.. SO YOU HAVE
TWO OPPOSITES AND
WHAT CAN HAPPEN ON FARMS IS BECAUSE THEY
ARE ISOLATED
THAT MAIL WILL PULL BACK FURTHER AND FURTHER AND FURTHER AND EVENTUALLY
[INAUDIBLE] SHALL GIVE UP BECAUSE
SHE TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED TO HAVE HIM TALK AND HE DOESN'T AND HE KEEPS GOING BACK AND THEN THE RATE
OF SUICIDE IS DEFINITELY GOING UP. SO HOW
DO WE
GET THEM TO COMMUNICATE AND THAT BRINGS IN ALL
OF A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT MEG WAS
TALKING ABOUT; WHICH IS; WE HAVE TO
WORK TOGETHER TO FIND WAYS
TO REACH OTHERS PEOPLE AND THAT
INCLUDES CLERGY AND
FARM ADVOCATES AND FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AN EXTENSION
AND A LOT OF
DIFFERENT PEOPLE BY US ALL PULLING TOGETHER FOR A
COMMON CAUSE I THINK WE CAN HELP A LOT OF FARMERS THAT
ARE STILL IN A LOT OF STRESS.
>>
REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: THANK YOU; TO DO SO AS I MENTIONED TED IS RIGHT NOW THE
SOLE PERSON GOT THE
STATE PROVIDING THIS KIND OF COUNSELING AND
ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THE BILL IS
TO INCREASE THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIRING
AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON
. MAYBE THERE WILL BE MORE PEOPLE
EVENTUALLY HIRED THAT WOULD NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT. THE
UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP TED HAS
IS THAT THE MONEY FLOWS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
TO THE COLLEGE THROUGH
THE METAL STATE SYSTEM AND HE IS
CONTACTED PERSON TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE SERVICES. SO HE
DOES WORK SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK SOME WEEKS AND HE DOES
TAKE CALLS ANYTIME OF DAY AND NIGHT. SO
IT'S UNIQUE AND
WE ARE SO RICHLY BLESSED IN MINNESOTA TO
HAVE TED MATTHEWS AS
OUR PERSON. HE HAS BEEN
-- I KNOW HE WAS IN CONVERSATION
WITH CONGRESSMAN AMBER ABOUT THE
STRESS ACTTO TRY TO REPLICATE
THIS IN
ALL OF THE STATES; THE UNITED STATES; SOWE
ARE FORTUNATE THAT
OF COURSE IT'S ALSO
DUE TO THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE STATE.
>> CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE
>> REPRESENTATIVE THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR MY QUESTION WOULD
BE ABOUT NUMBERS. IF YOU COULD JUST HELP ME
UNDERSTAND IS I'M NEW TO
THE COMMITTEE; WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS
SUICIDE RATES FOR ADULTS;
SUICIDE RATES FOR TEENAGERS;
SUICIDE RATES -- MAYBE EVEN BY GENDER IF YOU
DON'T MIND? THEN COME ALSO WHAT
ARE THE DIVORCE
RATES LIKE FORD OR DOMESTIC
ABUSE RATES? >> TESTIFIER: I CAN
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE. I DEFTLY CAN ADDRESS NUMBERS. MEG IS THE
EXPERT ON NUMBERS.
>> REPRESENTATIVE I CAN MY QUESTION IF YOU PREFER
>> TESTIFIER:
AS FAR AS DOMESTIC ABUSE; WHEN STRESS
DEPRESSION AND ABUSE GOES UP
YOUR IDEAL WITHOUT MORE NOW BECAUSE I HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE THAT'S A NATURAL FLOW IN ANY SOCIETY.
SO THAT DEFINITELY GOES UP. MEN TRY TO
COMMIT SUICIDE LESS OFTEN THAN
WOMEN DO BUT MEN ARE A LOT
MORE SUCCESSFUL. SO THE NUMBER
OF SUCCESSFUL -- REMEMBER; ALL
WE KKNOW WE LOOK AT THE
PAPER IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SUCCESSFUL. NOT ALL
THE ATTEMPTS. I DO WITH THE TIME
OF ATTEMPTS THAT NO ONE EVER
KNOWS ABOUT AND PEOPLE ARE
REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FARMERS ESPECIALLY; ARE UNCOMFORTABLE SHARING THAT WITH THE OUTSIDE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY
ARE JUDGED WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WE ARE WORKING AND TRYING
SO HARD WITH CLERGY AND OUTSIDE
SOCIAL SERVICES AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES TO HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND HOW FARMERS THINK AND OUT FARMER FAMILIES
WORK. SO THEY CAN
HELP THEM AND NOT BE SO JUDGMENTAL
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES
FARMERS CAN BE VERY JUDGMENTAL ABOUT OTHER FARMERS.
>> CHAIR:
REPRESENTATIVE POSTON >> REPRESENTATIVE POSTON: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR.
MR. MATTHEWS; THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT
YOU DO. AT A RECENT MEETING IN
CHAIR POPPE JUST
TALKED ABOUT HIRING ANOTHER PERSON BUT
AT THAT MEETING IT WAS ALSO A REAL
CONCERN ABOUT
YOUR RETIREMENT AND SO I'M ASKING ABOUT
YOUR RETIREMENT BUT I'M
ASKING YOU IF YOUR MENTORING SOMEBODY TO TAKE YOUR PLACE AND THAT
TIME COMES? >> TESTIFIER: I'M ONLY 26. >> >> [LAUGHING] >> REPRESENTATIVE POSTON:
THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER
>> TESTIFIER: HOPEFULLY WE
WILL GET SOME HELP. PART OF
THAT HELP IS NOT JUST
WITH THERAPISTS BUT WITH
FARM ADVOCATES AND THEY DO A TON
OF WORK AND I WORK
WITH THEM. IT'S TOO HARD
FOR THEM TO DO WITH THE SITUATION THEY
CALL ME AND I DO WITH THAT.
SO INCREASING THE NUMBER THERE THE
FARM ADVOCATES
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: AND
FARMER MEDIATION >> TESTIFIER: YES.
WHEN WE OF THOSE THINGS BECOMES A LOT EASIER. AS MEG AND I TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME;
WHEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THEY DO
NOTHING. SO WHAT WE
ARE PUSHING ALL THE TIME IS TO GIVE PEOPLE
TO KNOW SOMEBODY TO CALL
WHO CARES. SOMEBODY
TO CALL WHEN THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH OF ANYONE AND THE
FACT IS; IT'S A BIG CONCERN THAT
SOMEONE MAY COMMIT SUICIDE
AND WERE WRONG AND WE GET A
LITTLE EMBARRASSED BUT IF WE
ARE RIGHT -- SO YOU HAVE TO
WEIGH THAT AND
TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A
LITTLE EMBARRASSED BEATS THE HECK OUT OF NOT SAYING SOMETHING AND FIND OUT SOMEBODY
COMMITTED SUICIDE AND YOU ARE SAYING; YES I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT HE OR SHE MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET THAT KIND OF WORD OUT AND THAT
IS A LOT OF US DOING IT. NOT JUST ME BUT A LOT OF US TRYING TO GET THAT
WORD OUT AND WORK
WITH THOSE. AS FAR AS RETIREMENT GOES; 10 YEARS AGO I WAS GOING TO RETIRE.
AND; EIGHT YEARS AGO
AND THEN SIX YEARS AGO. I WILL
STAY ON FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER TWO YEARS
IF I AM A LOT OF
THAT POSITION AND THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE
TO TRAIN AS MANY PEOPLE AS I
CAN; PLUS DO THE THINGS I DO. REMEMBER; I DO A TON OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS BUT MY PASSION IS WORKING
WITH FARMERS; WORKING WITH THE FAMOUS AND DOING THOSE THINGS. DO THE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO I AM AND CAN SEE ME BECAUSE
I PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH. IF THEY KNOW ME; IF THEY SEE ME IF THEY'VE HEARD ME IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO
CALL ME BUT IF THEY JUST HEAR THE NAME
THEY DON'T.. SO IT'S A COMFORT
LEVEL THING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE PUSH REALLY HARD.
>> CHAIR: >> REPRESENTATIVE POSTON: THANK YOU; SIR. >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU
>> CHAIR:
REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON >> REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON:
THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR MR. MATTHEWS; GOD
BLESS YOU IT'S AMAZING WHAT
YOU DO. MY OPINION BUT I THINK YOU'LL BE SAFE TO SAY A LOT OF SITUATIONS
YOU FACE ARE FINANCIAL IN NATURE;;
FINANCIAL
STRESS FARMING. AT THE
STATE LEVEL NOT A LOT OF FUNDING ISSUES WE
DEAL WITH.. THAT'S MORE ON THE FEDERAL SIDE. SO IN A GENERAL SENSE; COULD YOU KIND OF US WALK US THROUGH HOW YOU WOULD DEAL WITH A GUY; A FARMER; AND
FINANCIAL STRESS
? HOW DO YOU WALK THEM BACK FROM THE EDGE?
>> TESTIFIER: OKAY. FOCUSING ON THE CONCEPT
OF STRESS AND NOT FINANCING BECAUSE
I'M A MORON WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE THINGS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCIAL STRESS; WHAT I DO IS I HAVE THEM FOCUS ON WHAT THEY
CAN DO
RATHER THAN ALL THE THINGS THEY CAN'T DO. WE BOG
OURSELVES DOWN
WITH THIS CAN HAPPEN I CAN GET THIS I CAN'T DO THIS. BY THE TIME YOU GET DONE WITH ALL THAT
EMOTIONAL TURMOIL YOU HAVE NO ENERGY LEFT TO LOOK AT THE THINGS YOU
CAN DO. SO WHAT I HAVE THEM DO IS
FOCUS ON WHAT CAN I
DO; HOWEVER CAN I GO FORWARD; WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE THIS A LITTLE BETTER. THERE IS NO FIX
. IF I OWE A LOT OF MONEY I CAN JUST SAY WELL IF I
DO THIS AND I WON'T GO
IT ANYMORE BUT I CAN FEEL
BETTER BECAUSE A GUN IN A DIRECTION THAT WILL MAKE ME FEEL BETTER THAT I'VE DONE
SOMETHING POSITIVE AS OPPOSED TO COSTLY JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT GO ON.
>> CHAIR: COULD WE HAVE
MS. MONAHAN;TO
ANSWER REPRESENTATIVEKLEVORN'S
QUESTION ABOUT STATISTICS AND
GENDER; PLEASE? >> [INAUDIBLE / OFF MICROPHONE]
>> CHAIR:
>> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR REPRESENT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT QUESTION. THE SHORT ANSWERS WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S THE IMPETUS BEHIND
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RIGHT NOW. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND
TALKING TO THE EPIDEMIOLOGIST THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR CODING DEATHS AND THOSE ARE
CODED BY OCCUPATIONAND BY
INDUSTRY. SOMETIMES SOMEBODY
WHO FARMS BUT ALSO DOES OTHER
WORK MAYBE CODED UNDER THE OTHER WORK. PERHAPS AFARM WIFE OR FARM WOMAN IN
MY CASE WORKS ON THE FARM MIGHT
BE CLASSIFIED AS A HOMEMAKER OR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PERSON WEATHER AND ALSO AS A FARMER. SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT
TO KNOW. IN FACT IT'S DIFFICULT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL TO THE COMMISSION I WOULD JUST TALK BUT THE FACT
THAT [INAUDIBLE] A COUPLE OF
MONTHS AGO SOME DATA
THAT HAD CLASSIFIED FARMING IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SUICIDE CATEGORIES
AND THEY FOUND INCONSISTENCIES IN THE DATA. SO THEY HAVE RETRACT THAT
STUDY.THEY KNOW IT'S A DANGEROUS OCCUPATION
BUT ALSO FOR FARM ACCIDENTS WE ALSO KNOW STRESS IS CONTRIBUTED TO THOSE PEOPLE WE KNOW STRESS
CONTRIBUTES TO
ILLNESS; TO HEALTH AND ILLNESS AND WE KNOW STRESS CONTRIBUTES TO
POOR DECISION-MAKING. SO USING ALL THIS CONNECTED BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC POINT ABOUT SUICIDE
I HOPE VERY MUCH BY THE
END OF JUNE THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME BETTER
INFORMATION ABOUTHOW IT'S AFFECTING OUR FAMILIES IN MINNESOTA. THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I APPRECIATE TED IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND WILL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE HEARING AS WELL. I DO
WANT PEOPLE TO BRING UP
TO TALK ABOUT THE BILL AND
FARM ADVOCATES AND THE RESOURCES.
>> CHAIR: IF I COULD
CALL OUT MATT >>
REPRESENTATIVE VANG: FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
FARM ADVOCATES >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU BY
THE WAY >> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE:
THANK YOU >> CHAIR: IS HE HERE?
>> [INAUDIBLE / OFF MICROPHONE]
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I THINK WERE GOOD ON THAT ONE. EVERYBODY DOES HAVE A BROCHURE SO YOU DO KNOW WHERE THE FARM
ADVOCATES ARE AND PREVIOUSLY
WHEN WE HAD A HEARING ALONG
THESE LINES CONNIE DICE HAS BEEN HERE AND I KNOW SHE'S ILL TODAY AND WAS NOT ABLE TO COME
AS WELL. SO I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON THEN
>> CHAIR: AGED YOU ARE
FROM MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION FROM
AGRICULTURE EDUCATORS.
THEN MR. DEWAR PLEASE DO YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND BEGIN
YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> TESTIFIER:
THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS AJ
DEWAR AND I WENT TO HATS TO
THE REPRESENTING
MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATORS AND ALSO THE MINNESOTA
[INAUDIBLE] ASSOCIATION IT I'M GOING TO TALK VERY BRIEFLY. OUR
ASSOCIATIONTHE [INAUDIBLE] SO I'M GOING TO TALK
DEEPLY ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND TURN IT OVER TO
MS. GILLY TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THE
[INAUDIBLE] GROWERS AND TO TELL HER STORY AND SHARE
YOUR THOUGHTS.FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR
WITH FPM FARM
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IS
A PROGRAM WENT THROUGH MINNESOTA STATE - EXCUSE ME - AND
THERE ARE INSTRUCTORS AT EACH OF MINNESOTA STATE
CAMPUSES AND FARMERS CAN BUY CREDITS
JUST LIKE ANY OTHER STUDENTS WOULD
BUY CREDITS
BUT IT'S NOT A TYPICAL CLASS WE DON'T GO TO CAMPUS AND SIT IN A CLASSROOM. WHAT HAPPENS IS
THE INSTRUCTOR WILL VISIT PERIODICALLY
WERE FARM AND GO OVER YOUR FINANCES
WITH YOU.
I THE PRIVILEGE OF DO A COUPLE RIGHT ALONGSIDE A COUPLE FPM INSTRUCTORS AND THE
FIRST THING THAT HIT
ME WAS JUST THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
BUSINESS MODEL THE FARMER
HAS. EVEN
[INAUDIBLE] I WOULD FEEL STRESSED BY HOW COMPLEX
THESE FARMERS DO ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THEIR
-- WHEN THE RUNNING A BUSINESS.
OF COURSE IN THE FARM ECONOMY
IS DOWN TO HAS BEEN IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS IF YOU HAD THAT STRESS TO IT AND ABOUT HALF
DOZEN VISITS
WITH FPM INSTRUCTORS AND I CAN SAY IS
PALPABLE STRESS AT EVERY
SINGLE STOP AND ONE EVEN ENDED IN TEARS
THEY JUST WONDERED IF THEY COULD KEEP DOING IT. I WILL
STOP THEREIF YOU WANT MORE
DETAIL [INAUDIBLE]
I'LL BE HAPPY TO COME BACK BUT
I WANT TO TURN OVER TO MS.
GILLY.>> CHAIR: THANK YOU. PLEASE DO.
>> TESTIFIER:
HELLO. I'M TERESA GILLY. I'M A FARMER FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND PAST PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA
SOYBEAN GROWERS AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME AND TALK WITH
YOU TODAY. I GOT ASKED
BY REPRESENTATIVE KIEL TO COME
LAST WEEK IT'S GOING TO BE
A LITTLE [INAUDIBLE]
>> [LAUGHING] AS I SAID
I FARM IN [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY I WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY HUSBAND UNTIL APRIL 1 OF 2017 AND ON
THE DATE MY HUSBAND
KILLED HIMSELF. SO IN THE MIST OF
ALL THAT
IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE TALK. WE WERE HAVING
FARMFINANCIAL TROUBLE.
IN 2015 WE HAD A PRETTY BAD
>> [LAUGHING] WITH SOME PRETTY GOOD YEARS BUT THEN
WE DIPPED INTO OUR WORKING CAPITAL BECAUSE WE HAD LANDLORDS I WANTED TO SELL AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. FARMING IS UNIQUE BECAUSE
THE BANKER DOESN'T LET YOU LOAN
ON 100%
OF THEIR LAND. THEY ONLY LET YOU GET A LOAN ON 65% OF YOUR LAND. SO WHAT DO
FARMERS DO AND THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.. DIP INTO YOUR
WORKING CAPITAL.
MY HUSBAND AND I DID THAT BECAUSE WITH A COUPLE
OF LANDLORDS THAT WANTED TO SELL
AND WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THIS IS
WHY WE RENTED FOR OVER 20
YEARS. SO IN THE WINTER OF 16
IN THE FALL
OF 16 [INAUDIBLE] I KNEW WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
CROP BECAUSE PRICES
WENT DOWN AND I WAS LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES.
I SPENT ALL WINTER LOOKING
FOR ALTERNATIVES. I DO KIND OF
PEOPLE GO WHY DON'T YOU
REACH OUT
AND I TELL PEOPLE; I STARTED IN NOVEMBER WORKING
WITH BANKS.
I ALSO TELL PEOPLE WE ARE VERY AWARE OF WHAT'S
GOING ON ON FARMS. BUT
THROUGH THE WINTER I TRIED DIFFERENT BANKS. I WENT TO THE
BANKS I WAS DEALING WITH. MY
BANKERS WERE I WOULD SAY BETTER WITH
ME ALONETHAN THEY WERE WHEN MY
HUSBAND CAME
. SO I'VE HAD A LITTLE CHAT WITH SOME BANKERS
BECAUSE SOMETIMES
THEY NEED TO BE A LITTLE
CAREFUL WITH WHAT THEY SAY. I AM ON A FARM
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN
1899 AND I'M THE ONLY ONE RUNNING IT
RIGHT NOW. THAT'S KIND OF
A LIE. I HAVE TWO NEIGHBORS FROM
FARMING WITH
THEY HAVE TAKEN ME IN WHICH IS REALLY GREAT. MY FARM IS NOT NEARLY AS BIG AS IT USED TO BE THE ONLY FARM
950 ACRES NOW. SOME YOU THINK IS
PROBABLY [INAUDIBLE] IN
[INAUDIBLE] COUNTY IT REALLY ISN'T. SO ON THAT DAY; I FOUND
MY HUSBAND IT WAS A ONE-SHOT
AND I FOUND THEM ON MY
SPIRITS ON A GRAVEL ROAD SO MY LIFE IS
DIFFERENT BUT I WILL SAY THAT I
HAVE HEARDFROM PEOPLE THAT ARE
DOING WITH FARM STRESS IN
THEIR FAMILY AND I TAKE EVERY CALL
I CAN. PART OF IT IS I JUST
WANT THEM IF THEY CAN HELP A
1-2 THINGS BRINGS THEM BACK
TO STEADY. THE OTHER FACTOR BECAUSE I SPOKE TO
NURSES IN ACTION BACK IN OCTOBER AND AS
WITH [INAUDIBLE]
IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TODDLERS TOLD THEM ABOUT
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME
AND HOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE REACH OUT TO
ME. SOME
PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD SUICIDES IN THE FAMILY
AND STUFF LIKE THAT. ONE THING I WOULD TELL YOU IS I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE FARM
WAVE THAT'S KILLED HERSELF. I'VE ONLY HEARD OF FARM HUSBANDS
WHICH LEADS ME TO A NEW DYNAMIC AND THAT
DYNAMIC IS THAT
UNLIKE ME; I WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH MY FARM TO WRITE IT ALL THE FINANCES. I WAS VERY AWARE.
A LOT OF FARM ONCE I WAS IN THE MAJORITY OF
FARM WIVES ARE LISTED AS FARMERS
AT FSA AND STUCK IT SO I WOULD GUESS THAT BECAUSE IT HAS TO
DO WITH HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS. SO
IT'S AMAZING
HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE HEARD FROM
; THEY ARE NOT VERY AWARE OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON UNDER
FARM BECAUSE THEY WORK PART-TIME JOBS
AND THEY HAVE JOBS IN TOWN WHICH
WASN'T ME.
WELL; ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE EITHER BECAUSE I COLLECTED FARM COMMISSIONER. >> [LAUGHING] IN NOVEMBER 2016.
HAVING THE FARMER OUTLINE
IS A EXCELLENT THINK IT
ONE PERSON IS NOT A GOOD THINK WE NEED MORE THAN THAT.
I THINK WE DO NEED TO TALK WITH THE BANKERS
AND ANYBODY THAT DEALS WITH THEM
IN THESE HARD FINANCIAL
STRESSFUL TIMES TO HELP THEM
FIGURE OUT AN AVENUE
. ALSO THESE FORMS IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY FIRMS ARE OVER 100
YEARS OLD AND IT IT'S A
PRIDE THING. I WILL TELL YOU; MY
HUSBAND NEVER
WORKED OFF THE FARM. HE NEVER PUNCHED A CLOCK EVER.
UNLIKE ME;
I'VE DONE OTHER THINGS BUT
IT WASN'T -- HE WAS A FARMER
. HE WAS A FARMER SINCE HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.
WHEN HE WAS ON THE TRACTOR WITH
HIS GRANDFATHER. SO
THE MENTALITY;
HOW MANY PEOPLE WAKE UP AND SAY;
THREE YEARS OLD THEY WANT TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT? THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
WHAT DO FARMERS DO? THEY ARE
LITTLE TRACTORS AND THEIR LITTLE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE FARMING
ON THE CARPET IN THE
LIVING ROOM. THAT'S WHAT LITTLE FARMERS DO.
THEY GROW UP TO BE BIGGER FARMERS AND THEY ARE
WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE KID
PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAD HIM ON A
LAWNMOWER AND HE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT WAS RUNNING [INAUDIBLE]
PRETTY KNOWLEDGEABLE. THERE ALSO
VERY DIVERSE. FARMERS ARE A
LOT SMARTER T
HAN THEY GIVES THEMSELVES CREDIT FOR.
MY HUSBAND HAD A CDL LICENSE. HE
WAS COMMERCIAL FREIGHT APPLICATOR. AND HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE
TO DO. IT'S JUST BUT
HIS MENTALITY THAT REALLY NARROW BUT
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT ME TO
TALK ABOUT?
I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS. I
WILL CONTINUE TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME FOR
. AS I SAID REPRESENTATIVE KIEL ASKED ME
TO COMEI FEEL IT'S
MY RESPONSIBILITY
TO MAKE SURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO
ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN
10 MONTHS FOR ME AND IT STILL STRUGGLE EVERY DAY BUT EVERY DAY I GOT UP TO DO SOMETHING GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED.
THANK YOU. I'LL TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANYBODY
>> CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE
KLEVORN >>
REPRESENTATIVE KLEVORN: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
ENSURING YOUR STORY. IS A PAINFUL STORE. I'M SO SORRY FOR
YOUR LOSS.
IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT WE HEAR THE STORIES THAT THE ENTIRE STATE HEAR
THE STORIES. SO THAT THE NEED
IS ADDRESSED AND THAT
THE PREVENTION
DOES OCCUR SO I JUST WANT TO SAY; THANK YOU.
>> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I AM TRYING TO GET OUT
UNTIL PEOPLE THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENS AFTER; AND IT'S AN
AMAZING [INAUDIBLE]
DOING A FAVOR FOR THE FAMILIES IS DEVASTATING FOR THESE FAMILIES. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH A
YOUNG GAL FROM NORTH DAKOTA
. HER HUSBAND KILLED HIMSELF ON
OCTOBER 25
. THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN. THE OLDEST ONE WAS FIVE. THE OTHERS WENT IN HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY ON NOVEMBER 1.
THEY WERE STRUGGLING AND I WILL
TELL YOU I WOULD GUESS 95%
OF IT IS FINANCIAL
FROM ANYBODY I'VE TALKED TO
SO THEY ARE HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WOULD I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND RESILIENCE.
RESILIENCE IS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO GET UP BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET NARROW
AND THEY GET NARROW MINDED
AND MINE; MY HUSBAND DID AND HE GOT
VERY NARROWMINDED
AND I DO NOT SEE IT IN WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. NOW;
2020 VISION; WHEN YOU LOOK BACK BUT I DO
TELL PEOPLE TO LOOK OUT FOR SOME
EARLY THINGS
. WHEN ARE NOT SLEEPING. WHEN THEY'RE IRRITABLE. EATING HABITS ARE DIFFERENT. IF THEY GET A
LITTLE SHAKY. I HEARD ACTUALLY A VISIT
WITH A
NUMBER YESTERDAY AND THEY HAD A NEIGHBOR THAT IS
IN DAIRY AND THEY SAID THAT
HE WAS STAYING UP REALLY LATE
WORKING NONSTOP IN THE BARN AND HE ENDED UP IN
AN ACCIDENT AND THEY'RE NOT REAL SURE
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT ON PURPOSE
; BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE NOT HEARD OF
A SINGLEFARM WIFE THAT'S
KILLED HERSELF. THEY'VE ALL BEEN
FARM HUSBANDS.
>> CHAIR: THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY.
>> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CHAIR: NEXT I LIKE TO CALL
JENNIFER --
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE FOR THE
RECORD AND BEGIN YOUR TESTIMONY
>> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR POPPE
BY CHAIR MORAN
AND MY REPRESENTATIVE; MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE;
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE
YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS
JENNIFER >> REPRESENTATIVE BECKER-FINN: PROF. OF SOCIAL WORKER MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MANKATO AND
A LICENSE IN ABOUT A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
I'M SORRY LICENSED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA I DON'T WORK FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. LET ME CLARIFY THAT.
BEFORE I JOINED THE SOCIAL WORK FACULTY IN 2014 WORD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN
RURAL MINNESOTA
SOUTH-CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
AS A DIRECTOR AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDER IN
A SMALL COMMUNITY BE EVER HEALTH CENTER. WE SERVED
27 COUNTIES THAT WAS A
TALL ORDER WE SERVED A NUMBER OF FARMING COMMUNITIES
MY EXPERIENCE IN THIS ROLE ME
FOREVER CHANGED WITNESSING SOME OF
THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT TODAY AND
THEN ALSO MORE SYSTEMICALLY THE GAP
IN THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE
AND FEELING THAT FEELS LIKE ALONG WITH PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT IN A VERY REAL WAY IN A PERSONAL LIFE. SO WITH
THAT EXPERIENCE
I'VE UNDERSTOOD A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY
AND URGENCY OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND IT'S
WITHOUT URGENCY
THAT I'M HERE TODAY. SO I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A QUICK
STO
RY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I CARRY WITH ME THAT I LEARNED AT A CONFERENCE MANY YEARS AGO.
I WILL JUST START.IT WAS A
LARGE CONFERENCE. THERE WERE
HUNDREDS; 5-600
MAYBE IN THE ROOM AND THE KEYNOTE TOOK THE STAGE. SHE WAS A PROFESSOR OF NURSING WORKED FOR MANY MANY YEARS IN
MEMORY LOSS. SHE TOOK THE STAGE AND THERE WERE THREE HUGE SCREENS BEHIND HER ON THE WALL
IN THE FIRST THING SHE DID WAS PUT AN IMAGE RIGHT ABOVE HER HEAD WAS AN IMAGE
OF A SCAN OF A BRAIN
AND SHE EXPLAINED THIS IS A BRAIN SCAN AN IMAGE OF A GRAND SKIN OF A NORMAL
HEALTHY ADULT. SHE PUT UP A
HUGE IMAGE ON THE HUGE SCREEN TO HER LEFT WAS ANOTHER SCAN OF THE BRAIN AND SHE SAID; THIS IS AN IMAGE OF A BRAIN SCAN
AND YOU'LL NOTICE IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST ONE AND INDEED; IT WAS GOOD THERE WERE GRAY MATTER
MISSING AND WAS QUITE DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BRAIN AND SHE SAID THIS WAS THE BRAIN OF AN ADULT OF THE SAME AGE
WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND SHE PUT UP A THIRD
AND FINAL IMAGE ON THE OTHER SCREEN
AND SAID WHAT YOU NOTICE ABOUT THIS BRAIN
AND THE COMMENTARY IN THE AUDIENCE WAS
LOOKS ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE
THE BRAIN OF SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S. IN FACT; WAS THE BRAIN OF AN ADULT OF THE
SAME AGE
WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA. SHE POSED THIS QUESTION FOR THE AUDIENCE WHICH I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT SHE SAID CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH WE TREAT HUMAN BEINGS LIVE RINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS THE SAME CARE AND CONCERN
AND SUPPORT WITH POLICIES AND SYSTEMS WE TREAT SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS WITH
ALZHEIMER'S. SO
I BELIEVE WE CAN BELIEVE THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND
ABOUT ERADICATING STATEMENT. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE
A CHOICE. EITHER WE BEGIN
TO ADDRESS THE VERY REAL UNMET UNTIL
HEALTH NEEDS
IN RURAL PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR STATE WE CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.
THE IMPACT OF THESE UNMET NEEDS HAVE ON
INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES
; THE FAMILIES THEY ARE TRYING
TO RAISE
; THE PLACES THEY WERE; THE COMMUNITIES THEY LIVE IN OUR STATE AS A WHOLE; ARE FELT IN MANY WAYS. THE HUMAN TOLL
[INAUDIBLE] I DON'T SEE
DATA POINTS
PLOTTED ON A GRAPH THE OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICES. I HEAR PEOPLE STORIES. I
THINK ABOUT CLIENTS I'VE WORKED WITH WILL TAKE IN THEIR LIVES AND HAVE
SUFFERED INCREDIBLE >> REPRESENTATIVE BECKER-FINN:
INCREDIBLY HARD THING FOR THE ECONOMIC TOLL IS POWERFUL SO SECRET IN THE COMMUNITY I WAS WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY OF MENTOR FOR THE WORK WE WERE DOING WAS SAVING THE
LOCAL HOSPITAL
AND I GUESS TAXPAYERS AS A WHOLE INCREDIBLE SUM
OF MONEY
SOLELY BY WORKING TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS
BEFORE THEY WERE EXACERBATED AND BEFORE THE WERE ACUTE AND DEBILITATING. THE MENTAL HEALTH
WORKFORCE CRISIS; IN OTHER WORDS; NOT HAVING
THE PHYSICAL BODIES IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES TO DO THE WORK; HAS
CREATED A SITUATION WHERE OUR POLICE OFFICERS OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS AND JAILS ARE ARTIFACTUAL
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. IT'S
NOT WORKING.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO CONSTANT SERVICES TO MINNESOTA FARMERS AND FARM INCREASE WOULD BE A CHALLENGE IF WE CAN ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESS
WORKFORCE ISSUES THAT WE KNOW TO BE PERVASIVE IN ALL
RURAL AMERICA AND DEFINITELY IN
RURAL MINNESOTA. I ASK YOU TODAY'S OF
THE COMMITTEE WOULD TAKE SOME CONCRETE STEPS TO WORK TO BUILD THAT WORKFORCE IN OUR OWN STATE.
I WILL END MY TESTIMONY NOW IS SOME CLEAR STEPS IN A LITTLE BIT OF DATA ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.
NINE OF MINNESOTA'S
11 GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS HAVE BEEN
DESIGNATED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS HEALTH PROVIDER SHORTAGE AREAS.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT
HAVING HEALTH
[INAUDIBLE]IT MEANS PROVIDERS IN
THOSE AREAS HAVE
ACCESS TO LOAN FORGIVENESS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
HAS SOME OF THAT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES SOME OF THAT
IN SHORTAGE AREAS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE NOW KNOW THAT WHILE
THESE PROGRAMS AID
IN RECRUITMENT THEY
DON'T ACTUALLY --
THAT DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO RETENTION AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. AS IT'S ONE OF THE GOALS OF THOSE
LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE KNOW SOME THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO
TEND TO GRADUATE FROM A GRADUAL PROGRAM
FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL IN PSYCHIATRY AND MOVE AND LIVE AND STAY AND WORK
MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IS IN
RURAL MINNESOTA.
SO WE CATEGORIZE THEM IN THREE
GROUPS. PEOPLE WHO TEND TO LIVE AND WORK AND STAY IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE MENTAL WORKFORCE ARE PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN A
RURAL COMMUNITY . PEOPLE WHO
>> TESTIFIER: IF AND I THINK THIS SOMEONE ESSENTIALLY IS ONLY ONCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THREE-PEOPLE WHO STUDIED IN A
GRADUAL PROGRAM WHERE THERE WAS EXPLICIT CONTENT DISTURBING RURAL PRACTICE. IF YOU WORK IN A RURAL SETTING YOU KNOW IT'S A
VERY DIFFERENT PRACTICE.
ANONYMITY IS
[INAUDIBLE] AND IF YOU COME FROM
METROPOLITAN AREA THAT CAN BE
A STRETCH. YOU HAVE TO SAY; I DID. I WAS SURPRISED. STIGMA IS VERY REAL AND FELT
VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAT WE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ARE VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY
KNOWS
YOUR BUSINESS RIGHT. IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF PRACTICING
AND FOR
SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING CONTENT IN YOUR GRADUATE PROGRAM
THAT DESCRIBES WHAT
RURAL PRACTICES
WAS A FACTOR IN KEEPING PEOPLE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THEN; FINALLY STUDENTS WHETHER
YOUR PLACEMENT FOR PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY IN A RURAL SETTING TENDED TO WANT TO STAY. THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE
TO ME.
IF YOU COME FROM AN URBAN CENTER TO PRACTICE IN A RURAL SETTING LET'S SAY YOU'RE A PSYCHIATRIST AND YOU GRADUATE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY MINNESOTARESIDENCY PROGRAM AND PSYCHIATRY AND HE MOVED TO GREATER MINNESOTA; YOU WILL FIND
A VERY DIFFERENT PRACTICE BUT IF YOU STUDIED EVEN AS A RESIDENT BEFORE YOU FINISH
YOUR PROGRAM IN A
RURAL SETTING YOU DONE SO ALONG
SIDE A [INAUDIBLE] SOMEONE WHO HAS COME BEFORE YOU
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP YOU ALONG IN THE PROCESS AND UNDERSTANDING
HOW THIS WORK IS DIFFERENT AND HOW YOU CAN DO IT.
ON THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER SITE; AND
SOCIAL WORK AND FAMILY THERAPY
WE ARE PLACING SPECIAL COUNCILS AND COUNSELORS FROM SCHOOLS
AND UNIVERSITIES; THE SAME AS TO YOUR SUPERVISOR WHO WORKS AND OPERATES IN THE COMMUNITY
WHO KNOWS HOW TO SHOW EUROPE. SO THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACTION
OR SERIOUS AND PREVENTABLE AND EVEN SOME EXAMPLES ABOUT THAT ALREADY. SUICIDE IS A
CLEAR AND OFTEN PREVENTABLE CONSEQUENCE. WROTE PARTS
OF MINNESOTA SUICIDE COMPLETION RATES ARE MUCH MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY ARE IN URBAN CENTERS AND WE KNOW THAT WE DO BECAUSE WITH GREATER ACCESS TO [INAUDIBLE] AND BECAUSE
[INAUDIBLE] THOSE TWO THINGS COLLIDE AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU. I WOULD END BY SAYING WHAT CAN
BE DONE? I
WOULD PROPOSE JUST A COUPLE THINGS. ONE; THE
COMMITTEE MIGHT
CONCERN A SCHOLARSHIP IN EACH OF THOSE NINE REGIONS BEEN A SCHOLARSHIP
FOR STUDENTS MUST LIKE
TARGETED RECRUITMENT
HIGH SCHOOL AND CAUSES OF AN INTEREST IN WORKING AND STAYING IN THE TOTAL WORKFORCE IN THOSE REGIONS.
TWO; THINK ABOUT CURRICULAR AND HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS. WE CURRENTLY
DON'T HAVE ANY CONTENT IN HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS ABOUT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THEN THREE; THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY IN THE STATE AND VIRAL
GREATER MINNESOTA. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER; TOO. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND GREAT NOVEL CREATIVE RESPONSES TO THIS CRISIS AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE YOU TODAY. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU.
>> CHAIR: >>
REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL TIME SO WE HAVE
MORE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP BECAUSE I WANT
TO GIVE 20 OF TIME TO
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL
BECAUSE SHE HAS BILLS TO PRESENT AS WELL.
I THINK WHAT MS. BF AND HAS
INDICATED IS THIS IS A BIG
ISSUE AND WE; THE AG
COMMITTEE; CERTAINLY
ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT
ALSO DOES KIND OF FLOW INTO HEALTHCARE
AND EDUCATION AND I THINK
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL WILL BE WILL TO ADDRESS THAT
SOMEWHAT; TOO; SHE'S PRESENTING
HER BILLS. WE HAVE A NEED
AND THERE'S MANY WAYS FOR US TO TRY
TO CONSIDER TO ADDRESS IT. SO;
THANK YOU.
>>
CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE MILLER HAS A QUESTION >> REPRESENTATIVE MILLER: I WILL BE
VERY BRIEF BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING THIS UP.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE QUICK. I REALLY
DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT
YOU'RE DOING. I THINK THE NEED
IS THERE. PRESENCE IS VERY OBVIOUS IN AND I SEE THIS BROKEN DOWN INTO
WAYS BUT WE HAVE THE BUSINESS RELATED
BUSINESS HEALTH AND THEN WE NEED THE HELP PEOPLE'S MENTAL
STATE AND
I'M HOPING IS THIS BILL MOVES FORWARD IS I THINK
MS. -- ADVICE OF THE WRONG
I APOLOGIZE -- I THINK
SHE TOUCHED THE ONE THING MAYBE AT
THIS TIME IN THE BILL IS NOT
BEING ADDRESSED ENOUGH AND WANTING MR. MATTHEWS IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND I THINK
FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
SUMMARIES PROGRAMSWITH COLLEGES AND SO FOR DOING A GOOD JOB BUT OKAY HOW DO WE WORK THROUGH THE PROBLEMS CAN WE SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS. [INAUDIBLE] AND I KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS
LIKE YOU SAID MR.
MATTHEWS USING ALL THESE THINGS YOU
CAN DO YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION
TO THINGS YOU CAN DO. WHEN WE TALK WHAT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL
THE EFFECTS ON MARRIAGE; SUBSTANCE
ABUSE; SUICIDE THE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN AND STUFF LIKE THAT
THESE PROGRAMS
THAT WE SEE GOING IS IN REALLY
ADDRESSING THAT; THOSE ISSUES. I
CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN
FIND WAYS;; ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD MS.
-- SAID; WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN RURAL MINNESOTA ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY WE DON'T IS THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE
IS BAD AND GOING DOWN
FROM THERE. THE INTEREST OF GOING TO RURAL MINNESOTA GO ALL THESE CHARGES
; SO WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE BUSINESS THINGS. WE ARE SET UP FOR THAT IN AGRICULTURE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH WITH SOMEONE WHO'S GOING THROUGH INCREDIBLE STRESS NEED TO FIND WAYS TO
BUILD THOSE AVENUES BETTER SO AS YOU MOVE THIS BILL FORWARD THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE FAIR IS A GREAT BILL BUT I DON'T THINK THIS ADDRESSES
THAT ENOUGH.
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID. WE'VE A LARGE ISSUE HERE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO TRY TO TAKE
DIFFERENT ANGLES AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP PEOPLE.
>> CHAIR: MR. MILBY STATE NAME AND BEGINNER TESTIMONY
>> TESTIFIER: VICE CH
AIR TREVOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR POPPE. MY NAME IS BRUCE MILLER AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION. A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST I WANT
TO THANK STRONGLY
COMMISSIONER PETERSON
AND MEG MONAHAN THE FORM OF AGRICULTURE WHO LAID OUT
AND WHO HAVE
CREATED PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T EXIST HARDLY ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY. I THINK WE SHOULD BE A STATE
PART OF THAT BECAUSE THE WORK WE ARE DOING. TO TED MATTHEWS; I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT
YOU COVER MORE PARTS OF
THE STATE THAN I DO BUT YOU ARE ON THE
ROAD CONSTANTLY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK HELPING PEOPLE OUT. I WANT TO
THANK ALSO MS. KELLY
FOR PUTTING A FACE ON A
TRAGIC SITUATION. WE ARE ALL TOO
AWARE OF. FINALLY; I WANT TO THANK
CHAIR POPPE AND REPRESENTATIVE KIEL JUST FOR HELPING ELEVATE THIS ISSUE SO EARLY IN THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT
NEEDS QUICK ATTENTION. I'M
SPECIFICALLY HERE AT THE REQUE
ST OF MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION
PRESIDENT GARY
-- YOU ASKED ME TO EXPRESS OUR
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS KIND OF WORK
IN MAKING FUNDING AVAILABLE
AND EXPANDING
THIS PROGRAM. I JUST SAY EXPANDING
THIS PROGRAM. ONE; MR. MATTHEWS IS
NOT ENOUGH FOR A WHOLE STATE. I'M
NOT SURE 10 MR. MATTHEWS IS ENOUGH FOR A WHOLE STATE. AS YOU ALL KNOW;
IF YOU REPRESENT A RURAL DISTRICT OR IF YOU REPRESENT AN URBAN OR SUBURBAN DISTRICT;
MINNESOTA AGRICULTURE IS IN
DIFFICULT TIMES.
WE ARE SEEN RECORD LOW PRICE AND WE ARE SEEN IN
SOME CASES REPORT CAME OUT YESTERDAY THAT INDICATES THAT MINNESOTA
MAY HAVE BEEN HARDER HIT AGRICULTURALLY AND
OTHER STATES AND
I THINK JUST THE KNOWLEDGE THAT
LOW PRICES; HIGH INPUT COSTS; THE FINANCIAL STRESS OF THE BANKS
GETTING TIGHTER
; STRESS IS EVER PRESENT IN THE LIVES OF EVERY FARMER;
EVERY SPOUSE OF EVERY FARMER AND EVERY CHILD OF EVERY FARMER IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY LIVE IN.
YET; IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE DON'T TALK ABOUT TOO MUCH
IN RURAL MINNESOTA
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT MUCH IN URBAN MINNESOTA. I CAN ASSURE YOU IF YOU GO TO THE
BUT THIS TIME A DAY IF YOU GO
TO THE BAKERY INCLUDING MINNESOTA WERE A GROUP OF FARMERS IS GATHERED FOR ANY SMALL TOWN
IN YOUR TOWN WHERE A GROUP OF FARMERS ARE GATHERED; I CAN BET YOU WITH
SOME CERTAINTY THAT THEY ARE NOT SITTING AROUND TALKING
ABOUT STRESS
; SUICIDE; DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. ARE THEY FEELING THAT? HECK YES
THEY ARE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT
EVERY FARMER IN
THAT CAFÉ THOSE OF ANOTHER FARMER NOT
IN A CAFÉ WHO MAY BE IN DANGER OF THE KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN.
MR. MATTHEWS AND MS. GILLEY BOTH HAVE TOUCHED ON
SOMETHING. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.
FARME
RS DON'T TALK. LITTLE TALK AS A GROUP. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FARMERS WE REALLY NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL
TO SAY WE ARE TALK ABOUT
THAT INDIVIDUAL; THAT COMPRISES THAT CLASS OF FARMERS. SO EVERY FARM; EVERY FARMER; EVERY SPOUSE
EVERY CHILD
IS DIFFERENT AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS WE
IDENTIFIED HERE; THE ONES WHO THROUGH THEIR APARTMENT OF AD;
THE FARM STRESS PROGRAM; THE FARM ADVOCATES PROGRAM GOT OUR SUPPORT OF LEGAL AID; LEGAL
ACTION GROUP; AND MAYBE MORE; MAYBE THERE'S MORE IDEAS WE CAN STILL BRING TO THE TABLE BUT
FOR NOW; WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE OTHER AGRICULTURAL GROUPS JOIN US IN THIS; HAPPY TO SUPPORT; THE KIND
OF LEGISLATION YOU ARE LOOKING AT AND WE PARTICULARLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
AND CRAFTING WITH I MIGHT FINALLY END UP AND HOPEFULLY
THAT YOU COME OUT OF COMMITTE
E SOON AND THAT WE CAN GO TO THE
FLOOR SOON THAT WE CAN GET ACTION ON THE SENATE SOON
AND WE CAN PUT SOME
MORE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD WE DON'T JUST NEED MORE MONEY FOR THE
FUTURE BUT WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR NOW BUT WE NEED TO BE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT HOW WE EXPAND THESE PROGRAMS
BECAUSE I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT IT'S NOT A BELIEF THAT THE STRESS IS GOING TO GO AWAY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IT IS WITH US FOR A
LONG TIME AND WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THESE PROGRAMS AND WEAVE THEM INTO A
SAFETY BLANKET. I THINK THAT'S OUR JOB
AS ADVOCATES
THAT THAT'S YOUR JOB AS
LEGISLATORS AND LET ME FINISH WITH ONE I HAD A MEMBER TELL ME THE OTHER DAY WHEN THEY GO TO BREAK THEIR GOING TO
BE DOING THEIR
TOWN MEETINGS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN YOU DO YOU'RE IN TOWN MEETINGS AND PRETTY
SURETHESE ARE READILY AVAILABLE. IT WOULD TAKE THEM AND PUT THEM ON THE TABLE. OUR EXPERIENCE WHEN WE GO TO WH
EN WE GO TO OUR INPUT MEETINGS WHEN WE GO
TO SESSIONS LIKE WE ARE IN MANKATO WE PUT THESE ON
THE TABLE YOU
KNOW WHAT? THEY GET TAKEN
PICKED UP THE CUP ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE
NOT WATCHING. SO IF YOU PUT THESE ON THE BACK TABLE AND YOUR
TOWN MEETING JUST ON
A FAVOR TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND WITH
THAT CHAIR; HOPPE ON BEHALF OF THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION
WE URGE
YOUR CONTINUOUS ACTION ON THIS. SO THANK YOU MUCH. >> CHAIR: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAST WE WILL CALL AMBER GLASER
FROM MINNESOTA FARMERS BUREAU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I'LL
ASK AMBER
TO BE AS QUICK AS SHE CAN BECAUSE AGAIN WE HAVE TWO
OTHER BILLS TO HEAR.
>> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR MY
NAME IS
AMBER GLASER >> REPRESENTATIVE METSA: THANK YOU FOR
ADDRESSING THIS TOUGH ISSUE WITH A FOR ADDRESSING SO EARLY IN SESSION.
>> TESTIFIER: MME. CHAIR
[INAUDIBLE] THERE'S MUCH MORE WE CAN BE DOING. MINNESOTA
FARM BUREAU IS STRONGLY ADVOCATING FOR
ACCESS TO TWO TOOLS RESOURCES
AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THESE ISSUES.
LIKE YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY TODAY ESPECIALLY
HIGHLIGHTED BY TED AND JENNIFER
AND DALTON RURAL MINNESOTA IS
SO UNIQUE. WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO FIND THOSE TOOLS
WHERE FORMS THE LOOK LIKE IN WAYS THAT WORK IN
RURAL MINNESOTA. RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS THAT
UNIQUE CULTURE THAT ARE AFFORDABLE BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IS COMING FROM TIMES OF FINANCIAL STRESS AND OFTEN TIMES
THE [INAUDIBLE] CONSIDERED A LUXURY
THAT EXTRA CASH AND SPENDING IS NOT THERE. THAT SOMETHING WE APPRECIATE THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND [INAUDIBLE]
THAT FARMER LANGUAGE. MINNESOTA FARM BUREAU IS GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT TED AND OTHERS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AGRICULTURE DO AND WE KNOW THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO. SO THANK YOU CHAIR POPPE FOR
BRINGING THIS UP YET WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN FINDING WHATEVER THAT [INAUDIBLE] IT
LOOKS LIKE BUT WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT THIS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
ARE DOING. >> CHAIR: THANK IT IS THERE AND WE ALSO THE
THAT WANTS TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL? MEMBERS;
ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTION REPRESENTATIVE JIM BOBBY ANY CLOSING SIMMONS
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: I JUST APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND CERTAINLY [INAUDIBLE] AND SHARE HER
PERSONAL STORY. IT'S A DEVASTATING
AND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE THEY WENT THROUGH AM CERTAINLY HIT
US
ALL TODAY HERE THAT TO KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME CAN BE
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT
FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR FUTURE
FAMILIES. SO I JUST
APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MOVE HOUSE FILE 232 TO BE LAID OVER FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATION.>> CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON YOU A QUICK QUESTION
>> REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON: YES VERY QUICK MR.
CHAIR. CHAIRWOMAN; PROCESS THAT COULD BE HELD OVER
USING ABOUT BEING HELD OVER TO LATER THE
SESSION OMNIBUS BILL WOULD HAPPEN
WITH IT >> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
ACTUALLY; I THINK WHAT WE WILL DO
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL'S BILLS ONE OF HER BILLS WILL BE HELD OVER FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
.. TERMINOLOGY WE ARE USING SO WE CAN JUST WAIT IT OVER
TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE UP AND THERE MAY BE
SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS OR THINGS WE ARE GOING TO DO AND MAYBE WE WILL
HAVE A BILL THAT WE WILL
TALK ABOUT WITH
FARM ADVOCATES WITH RURAL MENTAL HEALTH; WITH
[INAUDIBLE] TO INCREASE THAT MAYBE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT CAN BE DONE THROUGHOUT
OUTREACH AND MARKETING. WE HEARD WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING WITH
THE RADIO
.. SO THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO
LAY OVER
FOUR MONTHS AT A TIME HERE. WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THIS I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS IT IN A WAY THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK. SO
IF FOR PUTTING MONEY INTO IT LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. SO I THINK WE WILL CERTAINLY POINT OF SOMETHING EARLY HERE NOW
AND THEN WE WILL BE ADDRESSING IT FOR
THE FUTURE IS THE AG FINANCE BILL IN THE FUTURE; TOO.
>> CHAIR: REPRESENTATIVE MILLER REAL QUICKLY >>
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR THIS WILL BE QUICK. MME. CHAIR; IF YOU GIVE US WHEN THIS IS COMING BACK
IF YOU GIVE US A LITTLE
MORE HEADS-UP? NOT
THIS BUT THEN THREE DAYS BEFORE BECAUSE I'M SOMEONE THAT IS
WHO WILL WANT TO TESTIFY IN THIS AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM TIME >> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE: ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. CERTAINLY.I KNOW TERESA MS.
KELLY CAME AT THE REQUEST OF
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL.SO THIS IS A NONPARTISAN ISSUE. THIS IS A BIPARTISAN
FULLY SUPPORTED -- WE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TOGETHER. >>
REPRESENT OF HAMILTON I'VE BOUGHT ON THIS FOR A COUPLE
YEARS AND
REPRESENTATIVE ANDERSON IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY HERE IN AGRICULTURE.
>> CHAIR: MEMBERS WITHOUT THE BILL IS
LAID OVER NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS HOUSE FILE
82. REPRESENTATIVE KIEL.
>> REPRESENTATIVE POPPE:
>> CHAIR POPPE:
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL YOU DO HAVE TWO BILLS. HOUSE FILE 82 AND HOUSE FILE 84. I THINK WE WANT TO IS ADDRESS HOUSE
FILE 82 I THINK IS THAT THE ONE THAT IS --
>> [MULTIPLE VOICES.] 84 IS THE ONE THAT ADDRESSED
THE STATE. >>
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL: EXACTLY. THANK YOU
MME. CHAIR. BEFORE WE DO THAT COULD I
-- MEMBERS; THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT HOW IMPORTANT
THIS IS. IF YOU DON'T
ALREADY KNOW I'M A FARMER ALSO.
ACTUALLY; TERESA GILLEY AND I GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER
LONG BEFORE
EITHER OF US WERE IN POLITICS BUT WE WENT TO AN ANIMAL PROJECT BECAUSE THERE
AMENDMENT AND I WAS A FARM DAUGHTER ALSO BUT
WITH FOUR BROTHERS YOU DON'T DO AS MUCH
FARM WORK AS
YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE THE SPOUSE. I WOULD LIKE TO
POINT OUT THE OTHER SUBJECTS IN
THIS THAT AND TED MATTHEWS AND I BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT IT
. SOMETHING WE DON'T TALK WHAT WOULD BE A FINANCIAL STRESS IS THE
GENERATIONAL CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON OUR FARM AND I WANT TO
REMIND PEOPLE THAT ARE AVERAGE AGE OF FARMERS IS
WELL INTO THEIR
LATE 50S. SO WE ARE SEEING A HUGE CHANGE
IN AGRICULTURE. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BOTH SONS
AND DAUGHTERS STAYING HOME ON THE FARM AND
THE CHALLENGES THAT HAPPEN AS
OUR FARMERS LIVE LONGER IN
THEIR LIFESTYLE SO CAN A FARM WITH HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS LONGER
OR DO
THEY LEAVE AND THAT IS ANOTHER EMOTIONAL STRESS THEY HAPPENS. I AM BLESSED TO HAVE
BOTH TERESA COME TODAY AND
SHAUNA WRIGHT MEYER. SHAUNA IS A NW. MENTAL HEALTH
CTR. DIRECTOR BUT AS SOMEONE
POINTED OUT HOW CLOSE THINGS ARE SHAUNA
GREW UP ACROSS
THE SECTION IN THE WINTER
I COULD SEE HER HOUSE AND SHE BABYSAT MY
CHILDREN. SO
IT'S COME FULL CIRCLE AND WORK TOGETHER ON
THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT'S VERY BIG IN
MY DISTRICTAND THERE ARE SOME
REALLY CHALLENGES WITH WHAT WE ARE
DOING WITH AND WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT OF THEM BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCESHAUNAWRIGHT MEYER AND HAVE EXPLAIN
WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO INTO MENTAL
HEALTH CENTER
>> CHAIR POPPE: THANK YOU BEFORE WE DO THAT LET'S PUT ONE OF THESE BILLS BEFORE THIS
TOO IF WE MOVE HOUSE FIL
E >> TESTIFIER: IF AND YOU WANT TO MOVE HOUSE FILE 82
>> REPRESENTATIVE KIEL: YES. MME. CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE HOUSE FILE 82
POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN THE OMNIBUS
FINANCE BILL >> CHAIR POPPE: THANK YOU. WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND
BEING HERE FOR THIS
AND WE WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO PRESENT YOUR INFORMATION.
PLEASE; SHARE YOUR NAME AND GO AHEAD WITH
YOUR TESTIMONY. >> TESTIFIER:
MME. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE 20 MY NAME
IS SHAUNA
WRIGHT MEYER AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE KIEL MENTIONED
I SERVE
AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE NORTHWESTERN MENTAL HEALTH CENTER WE ARE
CERTIFIED COMMITTEE ERA HEALTH CLINIC THAT
SERVES SIX 10 AGRICULTURAL
COMMITTEES INCLUDING TERESA
GILLIES AREA IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. NOT ONLY
DO I COME WITH A PASSION FOR
MENTAL HEALTH. I WAS ALSO BORN AND RAISED IN OUR
FAMILY FARM THREE GENERATIONS FARMING. WE ARE NOT FARMING ANYMORE BUT WE
STILL HAVE VERY CLOSE TIES
SO THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND KNOW FIRSTHAND
THE STRESSORS THAT FACE OUR
FARMING AND AGRICULTURE FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS MORNING
IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE
DISJOINTED BECAUSE MY TRY TO
NOT REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS MORNING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO HEAR WAS
WHEN MEG MOYNAHAN WAS
TALKING ABOUT THE REACH ACROSS
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA THIS IS A NEW COMMITTEE FOR ME TO BE
SITTING AT I NORMALLY AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE SO IT IS JUST EXCITING TO KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS COMING UP IN THIS ARENA AS WELL. I THINK AT
TIMES THAT
IN THE MENTAL HEALTH INDUSTRY A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK
ABOUT CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND HOW DO WE MEET THE NEEDS OF
PROVIDING SERVICES CULTURALLY AND RESPECTFULLY IN MANY TIMES WE THINK ABOUT RACE
AND ETHNICITY BUT WE DON'T
THINK ABOUT INDUSTRIES AND IN THE AG
WORLD AGRICULTURE
MAY TO SOME PEOPLE MAY BE SEEN AS AN INDUSTRY BUT TO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ITS WAY OF LIFE.
RIGHT NOW; HAVING THAT CULTURAL COMPETENCY OF WORKING WITH
HER AGRICULTURE FAMILIES
AND INDIVIDUALS YOU NEED TO COME AND BRING WITH IT A SET
OF SKILLS
AND KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING
BECAUSE THE STRESSES THAT ARE FARMING FAMILIES ARE
EXPERIENCING OURS
SURMOUNTED BEYOND WHAT OTHERS MAY
BE EXPERIENCING. SO I USE THE ANALOGY IN OUR REGION MANY
TIMES NORTHWESTERN
[INAUDIBLE] SERVICESIZE THE STATE OF
VERMONT MIGHTORGANIZATION AS A TOTAL OF 150 EMPLOYEES 120 THAT OF
CLINICAL EXPERTISE THAT SERVE A VERY
RURAL AREA YES; SOME OF US LIKE MYSELF
HAVE AN ACTIVE BACKGROUND AND ARE
ABLE TO OUTREACH BUT IF I HAVE 124
THE ENTIRE POPULATION THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA HAS
TED MATTHEWS FOR THE ENTIRE STATE THAT
CULTURAL COMPETENCY. SO WHEN YOU PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE
WE REALLY NEED TO ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES. NOW WHERE I
AM EXCITED THAT SOMEONE LIKE TED IS ABLE TO INTERSECT WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE MINE
. WE OPERATE A 24
-7 MOBILE CRISIS TEAM. MANY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAVE THAT AS A RESOURCE. SO WHEN TED GETS A CALL
FROM SOMEBODY AND HE IS GETTING WAY HIM AND MY NECK IN
THE WOODS BUT HE IS WAY DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF
THE STATE; AT LEAST THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES THAT CAN BE ABLE TO HELP
HIM RESPOND OR WHEN THERE IS OR
TARGETED OUTREACH OR SERVICES THAT
ARE NEEDED THAT HE IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHY WE CAN LINK AND
PARTNER TOGETHER
WITH SOME OF THOSE SKILLS
AND EXPERTISE THAT COMMITTEE MENTAL HEALTH
CENTERS PROVIDE. BUT WE DO NEED TO
HAVE SOMEBODY; MORE PEOPLE;
WITH COMPETENCIES.
I'M HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW
TO PARTICIPATE IN DOING A SIX PART WEBINAR SERIES. SO WHEN TERESA GILLEY TALKS ABOUT HOW DO WE
BUILD RESILIENCY
;; THIS IS PART WEBINAR SERIES IS
TARGETED TOWARDS WOMEN AND FARMING BECAUSE MANY WOMEN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HELPING SUPPORT
IT OR NOT THE SOLE FARMER WHAT THEY ARE SUPPORTING
AN UNDERLYING FOUNDATION FOR OUR FARMING
FAMILIES AND IS BUILDING RESILIENCY AND MENTAL HEALTH
SKILLS; SELF-CARE
AND ABILITY TO WORK
AND SURVIVE IN THIS INDUSTRY THEY ARE IN AND THIS WAY OF LIFE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
BASED ON STATISTICS ONE IN
FIVE PEOPLE
AT ANY GIVEN TIME IN THEIR LIFE WILL EXPERIENCE A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. THAT COVERSOUR AG WAY
OF LIFE. IT'S NOT MEANT TO
BE ANYBODY.
IT CAN BE ANYBODY. IT'S NOT JUST ONE SECTOR
OF PEOPLE. WE ARE
NOT IMMUNE TO EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. SO I AM REALLY EXCITED AND
THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE KIEL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
REPRESENTATIVE HOPPE FOR CARING
YOUR
BILL. HOWEVER WE ABLE TO BRING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE STATE
OF MINNESOTA FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE
THE COMPETENCIES IN THE
SCHOOL SET SPECIFICALLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR OUR FARMING AND ADD COMMUNITIES
AND INTERSECT WITH
OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES;; I
SUPPORT THAT AND HOPE
TO SEE THESE BILLS CAN MOVE FORWARD. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> CHAIR POPPE: THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS HERE.
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL; THIS PARTICULAR BILL; DO YOU WANT TO
HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS
ON HOUSE FILE IT INTO >> REPRESENTATIVE
KIEL: NO. WE'VE ARTIE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT SO
I MOVE HOUSE FILE 82 IS LAID OVER FOR
POSSIBLE INCLUSION.IN THE OMNIBUS FINANCE BILL; CORRECT
>> CHAIR POPPE: YES; THAT'S GREAT. THIS IS THE
OUTGOING ONE SO THIS IS THE ONE
FOR [INAUDIBLE] AND NOW FOR FILE 84.
>> REPRESENTATIVE KIEL: YES >> CHAIR POPPE: WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCOVER BILL >>
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL: YOU WANT ME TO MOVE
IT FIRST. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE HOUSE FILE 84 BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ALSO
LAID OVER FOR FUTURE
CONSIDERATION. HOWEVER; WE HAVE HAD
SOME CONVERSATION MEMBERS; AND I
WOULD URGE
CHAIR POPPE; JUST SO WE CAN MAYBE GET
IT THROUGH TO THE SENATE AND GOVERNOR'S DESK AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.. I THINK AS WE HAD DISCUSSED HERE
THE CRISIS IS NOW. THIS IS A AND
AGRICULTURE WE HAVE ALREADY FOR
THOSE
WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS; WE'
VE ALREADY PURCHASED AND PLAN FOR THE NEXT CROP
. SO THERE MIGHT BE FARMERS
STILL WORKING [INAUDIBLE] BUT THEY'VE
ALREADY PROCEEDED AND FIND THAT MAYBE THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK
SO WELL AND THERE ARE SOME
REAL CHALLENGES THAT COME UP
AT THIS TIME A YEAR. THIS IS WHEN
YOU SPENT
LITTLE MORE TIME WITH THIS FARM BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT ADVISORS
AND YOU ARE REALLY DIGGING DOWN INTO
THE NUMBERS AND ANALYZING WHAT
IT IS YOU NEED TO DO ON
YOUR FARM. THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I AM A CROP FARMING THAT YOU TALK ABOUT ANIMALSTHAT IS CONSTANTLY
CHANGING AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO
FUND THIS INTO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> CHAIR POPPE: I WOULD AGREE.
THANK
YOU FOR PRESENTING THE BILL AND YES;
THIS ONE FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION BUT WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS. WE WILL HEAR NEXT WEEK FROM
REPRESENTATIVE MOR
AN HAS REGARDING FACT THAT WE WILL HEAR ABOUT FARMER AND REMEDIATION DID AS I SAID THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS IN BILLS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO
PUT TOGETHER AS WELL BUT I THINK
CERTAINLY TODAY WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE NEED AND THE CONCERN
AND THE IMMEDIACY THAT WE NEED
TO TAKE FOR THIS. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT.. I THINK WE
WILL HAVE
REPRESENTATIVE HAMILTON >> REPRESENTATIVE HAMILTON:
THANK YOU; MME. CHAIR THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALSO TO REPRESENTATIVE KIEL FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE OF COURSE IN
MME. CHAIR;
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO BE MOVING THIS
BILLS OUT. LAST YEAR WAS A
PRIME EXAMPLE ON WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IF WE COLLECTIVELY DON'T
STAND TOGETHER AND NOT ALLOW
BILLS TO BE ROLLED INTO
OMNIBUS BILLS BECAUSE AS YOU RECALL WE PASS THESE
LAST YEAR AND IT WOULD'VE ADDRESSED THESE VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND I THINK BACK TO
FORMER REPRESENTATIVE NOW CHIEF JUSTICE
PAUL THISSENTHERE WAS MAKING VERY
PROFOUND COMMENTS A
S IT RELATES TO OMNIBUS BILLS AS WELL
AND ONE OF HIS LAST DAYS AND
IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO ALL
OF US TO TELL OUR LEADERSHIP THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT. LET'S
LEARN FROM THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN
THE PAST AND THAT BILLS LIKE THIS ON THEIR OWN.
SO THANK YOU MME. CHAIR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP RUSSELL THANK YOU
REPRESENTATIVE KIEL FOR YOURS. >> CHAIR POPPE: ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. OKAY SO WE HAVE
HOUSE FILE 82 WHICH IS
LAID OVER AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HOUSE FILE 84 WHICH IS FOR
FUTURE CONSIDERATION. SO IF THERE'S NO
OTHER COMMENTS AND AGAIN I APPRECIATE
THAT YOU CAME A DISTANCE AND MS. GILLEY CAME AT A DISTANCE
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. HOUSE FILE 84
WILL BE LAID OVER FOR
FUTURE CONSIDERATION WI
TH THAT; THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING
TODAY AND LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN
TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR MANY PEOPLE.
WITH THAT; THE MEETING ADJOURNED. >> [GAVEL] >> [ADJOURNMENT]
>>
