#JourneyForDoMoreAg by WinField United
Knowing this time of year can be particularly busy and stressful, the team at WinField United Canada wanted to do something about it. They had a simple ask of sign up, run/walk 5 km, get talking about mental health and check in with your family, friends and co-workers.
The results? #JourneyForDoMore had individuals and teams across Canada run/walk the 5 km and raised $17,000 for our foundation. Alex Jewell, ATLAS marketing manager at WinField United Canada, sat down with us to share how they came up with the idea and why mental health is so important to them.
How did #JourneyForDoMoreAg start?
#JourneyForDoMoreAg started last year when a couple of us were chatting and could sense some burnout and stress amongst our team. We saw a need to get our crew connected to each other and equipped with mental health resources to help cope with the upcoming growing season (and recognize when others around them may need support). Reagan Wildeman, (director of marketing and sustainability at WinField United) and myself were casually discussing ways we keep our own mental health in check when things get stressful - whether that is seeking professional help, time with friends or family, getting enough sleep - or getting our bodies moving! It spiralled into a crazy idea – a virtual 5K to support The Do More Agriculture Foundation, a way to bring us together, encourage our team to take body breaks and look after ourselves, all while giving back and raising awareness around mental health in ag.
Why mental health?
As a society, we are breaking the stigma around mental health, and it is amazing to witness. Agriculture is an industry with a foundation of deep rural routes, grit, work ethic, strength and resilience. In order to uphold that image, those qualities can also often make it harder to speak out about mental health and the need for support. We want to make sure our industry is taking care of our mental health so we can continue to feed the world. We are stronger together, and Do More Ag says it best, it’s ok, not to be ok.
How do you have mental health conversations in the workplace/ with your colleagues?
Our team really cares about each other. Corporately, we have a few ways to keep it top of mind, like our Mindful Mondays where we pause at noon for some mindful breathing, stretches and other tips and tricks as a team. We also have a culture of looking after it in the moment and making time to check in and talk about how we are doing or when we notice others around us may not seem like themselves. It isn’t always easy, but our team has made the conversations easy. We still have a lot more to learn and room to grow, but I am proud of our crew for blazing a trail!
What was your favourite part of the journey?
Where to start! The way the ag industry rallies together, the smiling families making a point to get outside and get moving together and talking to each other about mental health, the furry friends that get in on the action, the community we create by doing a 5K “together,” how fast some of our networks are, people feeling safe to open up and share their stories and making connections with other participants. I could keep going. All in all, it is so heartwarming to see EVERYONE stand behind something so important, getting active and uncomfortable, and connecting near and far, I laugh, cry and smile throughout the entire event. Everyone makes me so proud to be part of the ag industry.
It has been incredible to see individuals come together to support the wellbeing of individuals in agriculture. Thank you to each individual who took the time to walk/run the 5 km. Thank you for taking the time to talk about mental health. Thank you for your donations.
To learn more about Winfield United Canada, please visit their website here.
Alex Jewell, ATLAS marketing manager at WinField United Canada.