{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/69b333ea00294d4abc384338/6a0297425c981a357322dbf0?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Cultivating Resilience","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/69b333ea00294d4abc384338/1778554673535-076ac0ba-b263-4859-bece-955c5dde345a.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In this episode, Ashleigh and Amanda sit down with Sarah Zastrow—a multi-generational crop farmer, farm-stress guru, and the voice behind the <em>Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences</em> podcast. Farming is often romanticized, but the reality involves a unique set of pressures that can weigh heavily on families and mental well-being. Sarah shares her journey from joining the Farm Bureau to find a \"better way of doing things\" to becoming a leading advocate for mental health in the agricultural community.</p><p>We dive into practical strategies for managing stress, the importance of building a supportive network, and how to find joy in agriculture again, even when the \"wrenches\" start flying. Whether you're a lifelong farmer or new to the industry, this conversation offers the tools and encouragement needed to balance the demands of the farm with personal wellness.</p><h3><strong>Show Notes</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Meet Sarah Zastrow:</strong> An introduction to Sarah’s background farming 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans in Midland and Saginaw counties alongside four generations of her family.</li><li><strong>The Path to Leadership:</strong> How Sarah’s involvement in the Michigan Farm Bureau led her to win the 2021 State Discussion Meet and the 2022 Young Farmer Leader Award.</li><li><strong>Defining \"Cultivate Balance\":</strong> Sarah explains the mission of her business, which provides workshops and coaching to help farmers manage stress and prevent burnout.</li><li><strong>Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences:</strong> Insights from Sarah’s own podcast about life, family, and finding peace in the middle of farm chaos.</li><li><strong>Practical Stress Tactics:</strong></li><li>Recognizing the \"volcano\" of stress before it erupts.</li><li>Low-cost strategies for better sleep and mental clarity.</li><li>The power of a strong support network like the Young Farmer program.</li><li><strong>Agriculture Advocacy:</strong> Why Sarah believes it’s vital to be a \"voice for agriculture\" in communities that may feel disconnected from the farm.</li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Sarah:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Podcast:</strong> Throwing Wrenches, Mending Fences</li><li><strong>Social Media:</strong> @throwingwrenchesmendingfences on Instagram and Facebook</li></ul><p><br></p>","author_name":"Ashleigh Bryant"}