Join NY FarmNet and the makers of the farm stress documentary Greener Pastures for a segment screening, discussion, and live Q&A.

Greener Pastures provides an intimate window into the lives of four multigenerational farming families as they navigate the stressors that have contributed to farming having one of the highest rates of suicide of any U.S. occupation. Throughout the film, we see how farmers carry on in the face of these challenges and, ultimately, find hope in their successes. It is an underdog story of perseverance and determination that tackles nothing less than the future of farming in America.

Joining us on the panel:

Jeff Ditzenberger is a corn and soybean farmer in Wisconsin. Twenty-seven years ago, Jeff tried to end his own life. Today, he runs a mental health nonprofit, TUGS, traveling across the Midwest to talk with farmers about mental health and suicide prevention. The film follows Jeff’s work with his nonprofit, his involvement in community theater, and his battle with the elements.

Chris Petersen is a livestock farmer and a regenerative agriculture advocate in Iowa. He is also no stranger to the stresses of farming or the danger that comes from ignoring them. When Chris was five years old, his mother died by suicide. One week earlier, their family farm was forced into foreclosure. As a result, Chris works tirelessly, lobbying for farmers’ rights and health. The film follows Chris’s 2019 support of Bernie Sanders’s campaign in the Iowa primary.

Director Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing. During his studies, he began his film career making two documentaries, “Little Warriors” and “Sonnie.” “Little Warriors” won the Indiana Spotlight Film Award from the Heartland Film Festival. He commenced filming Greener Pastures in the spring of 2018 after learning about the decline of the agricultural industry and the high farmer suicide rate in the U.S.

Register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dDVr4K47TeGajk7Ci_LJ_w