The Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset initiative was established to support farmers through their unique challenges and provide resources to help the rural community prosper.
The Georgia Healthy Farmer initiative is a collaboration between McClendon Law and Consulting, Georgia Department of Agriculture, University of Georgia (UGA), the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (GDBHDD), AgriSafe, and the Georgia Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
Hurricane Michael, the worst agricultural disaster in the state’s history, brought to light a range of challenges that Georgia farmers experience on a regular basis. The COVID-19 public health crisis has only increased the weight of these stressors.
Many farmers are:
Overwhelmed with legal challenges related to heirs’ property, succession planning, and debt
Finding it difficult to maintain financial obligations
Dealing with economic uncertainty associated with the pandemic and natural disasters
Taking on a large amount of work to maintain their farm
Handling weather-related issues
Not getting enough rest
Not sure where to find solutions when work injuries occur
Experiencing health-related challenges
Strengthening the farming community
Our goal is to provide proactive solutions for youth, beginning, and seasoned farmers to alleviate the stress associated with the above concerns. Our firm has been tasked with educating farmers on legal issues that impact their farms and farm operations in the short and long term, including heirs’ property, estate and succession planning, and debtor protection.
We conduct workshops around the state for farmers and their families. The workshops will provide farmers with in-depth knowledge about the legal issues that they need to consider and plan around to protect their farms and equip their families with the tools that they will need now and in the future. All participants in the workshops will receive a Farmer Legal Health Checkup Handbook, which will include information, tools, and action items to help them strengthen their farm operation, secure the title to their land, and build a family legacy.
Workshops
We support our partners in their efforts to increase awareness around stress and mental health and the impact that it has on Georgia farmers. We send out a bi-weekly newsletter to our email subscribers to provide information on heirs’ property, estate and farm succession planning, mental health resources, and other topics that support Georgia farmers. Through this awareness, we educate and inspire farmers to increase economic, business, and legal stability with their farms.
Click here to join our email list.
Awareness and Outreach
Through the strong networks that we have developed with nonprofit, for-profit, and government organizations around the state, our firm will connect the farmers and landowners that we work with to resources that alleviate their stress and meet other identified needs. Our partnerships will help farmers to be better informed about legal planning for their farm and their families, which in turn helps reduce stress and promotes good mental health.
Referral Partnerships
We conduct workshops around the state for farmers and their families. The workshops will provide farmers with in-depth knowledge about the legal issues that they need to consider and plan around to protect their farms and equip their families with the tools that they will need now and in the future. All participants in the workshops will receive a Farmer Legal Health Checkup Handbook, which will include information, tools, and action items to help them strengthen their farm operation, secure the title to their land, and build a family legacy.
We support our partners in their efforts to increase awareness around stress and mental health and the impact that it has on Georgia farmers. We send out a bi-weekly newsletter to our email subscribers to provide information on heirs’ property, estate and farm succession planning, mental health resources, and other topics that support Georgia farmers. Through this awareness, we educate and inspire farmers to increase economic, business, and legal stability with their farms.
Click here to join our email list.
Through the strong networks that we have developed with nonprofit, for-profit, and government organizations around the state, our firm will connect the farmers and landowners that we work with to resources that alleviate their stress and meet other identified needs. Our partnerships will help farmers to be better informed about legal planning for their farm and their families, which in turn helps reduce stress and promotes good mental health.
Workshop topics include:
Understanding heirs’ property and strategies to clean up title
Passing your farm to the next generation
Firming up the structure of your farm business
Maintaining a healthy mindset
Debtor protection
& other relevant topics
The workshops are provided at no cost to hardworking farmers like yourself. You will learn and work through strategies to better protect your farm and families. Some workshops will also provide one-on-one consulting opportunities. Depending upon legal needs, participants may receive recommendations for more extensive consulting or legal representation, which would be available through our firm or referral partners at a cost.
That depends on what type of help that you need. If you or a loved one are feeling particularly stressed or experiencing a mental health concern, please don’t hesitate to call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line: (800) 715 - 4225.
If you need help with a legal issue involving land, farming, estate planning or probate, please feel free to call us at 478.292.7444. Our friendly receptionist, Jacqueline, would be happy to assist you. You can also book a Clarity Call using our online booking form.
If you have a legal issue involving land, farming, estate planning or probate, please feel free to contact our firm by calling 478.292.7444. Our friendly receptionist would be happy to assist you. You can also book a Clarity Call using our online booking form. During the Clarity Call, you will speak with one of our attorneys about your legal concerns and we will work together to identify your next steps.
If you have a legal concern that falls outside of the above areas, you may want to visit the State Bar of Georgia website to find an attorney who handles cases similar to yours.
If you are low income or elderly, you may consider contacting Middle Georgia Justice or Georgia Legal Services Program for assistance.
If you aren’t sure whether your case falls within the cases that our firm handles, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We will do our best to help you decide whether we are the right firm for your or whether we need to offer a referral.
Please don’t hesitate to call Georgia Crisis & Access Line: (800) 715-4225 to receive help for yourself or a loved one. More information about this service may be found here.
We have in person workshops coming up in Sumter County, Bacon County, Troup County, and Hancock County. Visit McClendon Law & Consulting | Linktree to register for the workshop of your choice. Most workshops will be held at the county extension office.
If you would like to serve as a co-sponsor for one of our upcoming events, please email our Farmer Success Specialist at farmersuccess@mcclendonlawoffice.com or call (478) 226-4134.
If you would like to host an upcoming workshop, please complete this form, email our Farmer Success Specialist at farmersuccess@mcclendonlawoffice.com, or call (478) 226-4134.
The Georgia Farmer Healthy Mindset initiative is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Southern Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Program, under award number 13395431/2021-09304 /project ascension no. 2021-70035-35575.
