Farming comes with its share of challenges. But for Josh and Liz Steiner, first-generation dairy farmers from Monroe, the toughest battle hasn’t been in the barn. After losing a child two decades ago, the Steiners faced unimaginable grief. Today, they’ve turned that pain into purpose by becoming advocates for mental health in rural communities.
“We all know agriculture is tough in itself right now, mentally,” Josh says. “If you see somebody down, what I’ve learned in the past few years in my own experience is… you really need to reach out to people and have it aware that people reach out to you.
Josh now shares that message on his TikTok page, where he posts positive videos meant to encourage others.
“I’ve gotten some feedback from people saying, ‘We’re glad we saw that today. We were having a rough day,” he says.
Their story recently gained national attention through a documentary being featured in Washington, D.C. In it, Josh shares his philosophy of “de-stressatizing” or finding small ways to step away from the daily grind.
“You’ve got to get away from the problem for a while, whether it’s a mini vacation or just a daycation with the family or some buddies or go out some night to eat with your spouse or your friends,” he recommends. “You’ve got to get away to not think about everything at home. I think it’s the number one thing.”
Despite the constant demands of dairy farming, the Steiners make time to recharge and connect with others through “FarmTok,” a community of farmers on TikTok who share support.
“I never thought an app from China would ever build a group of people that cares so much,” Josh says. “We get together every year… and we all just talk and say prayers, say what’s on our mind, talk about farming.”
Through their openness and advocacy, the Steiners hope to remind others that seeking help and offering it can make all the difference.
