Greener Pastures

American farmers have seen it all – from the Great Depression to the farming crisis of the 1980s. Farmers have held onto the rugged individuality and strong work ethic that define them through these hardships. But now, a dangerous combination of economic uncertainty, isolation, a pandemic, and climate change has led to a mental health crisis that places an essential industry at a dark crossroads, threatening not only the lives and livelihoods of American farmers but our nation’s food supply. Greener Pastures captures the day-to-day lives of four small, Midwestern, multigenerational family farms over the course of three years. Through an intimate, observational lens, we examine various farm stressors, policies, and politics that farmers must maneuver to survive, connecting the dots between mental health, industrialization, food production, and climate change. It is a story of perseverance, patience, and determination that tackles nothing less than the future of farming in America.