Montezuma County SAFE program shows promise but struggles to reach more producers

Montezuma County coordinators presented the "Cattle, Crops & Coffee" pilot to the Ag Behavioral Health Working Group as a way to build connection and reduce stigma among farmers and ranchers.

Niana Phillips, the county CNC coordinator, said the pilot used casual, locally held meetups to engage agricultural producers. "We wanted to make it very casual, let them know why we're here, that we just wanted to dedicate this time to them and just offer free coffee," Phillips said.

Emily Lockard, county director and ag specialist with Colorado State University Extension, shared survey findings collected at the county fair: roughly 75% of respondents identified with the agriculture community; respondents named financial pressures (reported as 40%), weather and isolation as leading stressors; and 50% said they were "very" concerned about agricultural mental health. Lockard and others stressed that outreach in a geographically large county requires meeting producers where they are and rotating meeting locations.

Responses to barriers included offering meetups in multiple towns, holding evening socials at the summit location, partnering with local vendors for giveaways (for example, regionally appropriate farm produce), and recruiting champions such as county commissioners or Farm Bureau leaders to help promote events. Organizers noted turnout varied from single attendees to groups of 10 and that success can be measured by meaningful one‑on‑one conversations as well as attendance.

What was decided and next steps: the Montezuma team will continue the pilot through March, meeting on the second Wednesday of the month in rotating locations, and will share posters and promotional materials with the working group. Several members offered to help distribute materials through tribal networks, extension offices and USDA field offices.