Fields of Knowledge

conversations on farmer health + safety

with the NEC + experts across the many fields of agriculture

Fields of Knowledge will return fall 2026

The Harvest

browse the archive of past Fields of Knowledge conversations

Triple Burden on Women in Ag | May 2026

Panelists:

Florence Becot, PhD | Agricultural Safety + Health Program Lead, PennState Extension

Christina Day | Farm Services Navigator, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH)

Marylynn Mattison-Collins | Dairy/Livestock Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Oneida County

Rural Mental Health + Wellbeing | April 2026

Panelists:

Joshua Grove | PhD Candidate in Sociology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University

Amanda Horner, MPH, CHES | Project Coordinator, Rural Mental Health Initiatives, New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH)

Cardiovascular Health | March 2026

Panelists:

Vickie Gwozdz | Community Heart Program Coordinator, HealthWorks (NYCAMH, Northeast Center)

Brian J. Quinn, MD, MPH | Medical Director, HealthWorks (NYCAMH, Northeast Center)

Diana Van Doorn | Research Officer, Teagasc

Connections, Community, + Relationship Building in Rural America | February 2026

Panelists:

Duane Martin | ROPS Hotline Coordinator, NYCAMH + NEC

Gregory Salvadore | Fourth Generation Farmer, SobSal Acres

Destiny Trombley | Research Coordinator, NYCAMH + NEC

Stress Management During Spring Operations | January 2026

Panelists:

Finola Colgan | Lecturer or Law + Mental Health Training Specialist, Technological University of the Shannon

Audrey McDougal, LCSW | Family Consultant, NY FarmNet

Brittney Schrick, PhD | Associate Professor, Family Life Specialist, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

Farmer Mental Health | December 2025

Support through Service Provision

Panelists:

Andrea Bjornstead | Mental Health Professor + Extension Specialist, South Dakota State University

Finola Colgan | Lecturer or Law + Mental Health Training Specialist, Technological University of the Shannon

Chris Pawelski | Fourth Generation Onion Farmer, Pawelski Farms

Becky Wiseman, LCSW-R | NY FarmNet Family Consultant Case Supervisor, Rural Minds

Dairy Food System Centralization | October 2025

Panelists:

Bret Bossard | NY Dairy Farmer, Barbland Dairy + White Eagle Dairy

David Fisher | President, New York Farm Bureau

Duane Martin | ROPS Hotline Coordinator, NYCAMH + Northeast Center

James MacDonald | Research Professor, University of Maryland, College of Agriculture + Natural Resources

Deaths of Despair | September 2025

Landscapes of Support for Alcohol, Drug Overdose, and Suicide in Rural Communities

Panelists:

Craig Dumond | Delaware County Sheriff

Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith | Associate Professor, Rural Health + Research Center Co-Director, Rural Health Program Co-Director at University of Minnesota

Julie Lux | Vice President of Communications, Rural Minds

Dr. Jeffrey VanWormer | Center for Clinical Epidemiology + Public Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute