UT Extension offers family wellness program

UT Extension’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is inviting farm families and community members to participate in the Tennessee Farm Family Health and Wellness Program. The program is a Zoom-based webinar that provides farm families with the tools to cope with and thrive amongst the various challenges unique to farm families. Registration is open now at fcs.tennessee.edu/mffhw/.
Carrie Castille, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of UTIA, is excited for Extension to offer this program for a second year in a row. “The most important assets on a farm are the people,” said Castille. “The Tennessee Farm Family Health and Wellness Program is focused on making long-term health investments in Tennessee farm families and their communities. Extension is pleased to continue partnering with farmers in promoting health, wellness, and a thriving future.”
The course will utilize a hybrid method of live webinars and/or recordings that can be watched on any schedule. Topics include grain bin safety, safe livestock handling, farmland legacy, healthy habits to maximize mental health, medical warning signs, talking about tough topics, vision, hearing, and crossing the communication gap. The series will also feature program resources that are available to support farmers. The first presentation will open with a welcome from Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher.
The Zoom-based webinars will be held Thursday nights from 6-8 p.m. beginning Jan. 19. Additional webinars will be held Feb. 2, Feb. 16, March 2, and March 16. Registered participants will be emailed a Zoom link and instructions before each session. Recordings will be uploaded to the website after each session for further viewing. Supplementary sessions are available on the Farm Family Health and Wellness Program website at fcs.tennessee.edu/mffhw/ to registered participants. Seven sessions must be completed to finish the course. 
Registration is currently open for the Master Farm Family Health and Wellness Program at fcs.tennessee.edu/mffhw/. The fee is $100 for an individual and their family members. For more information about the Tennessee Farm Family Health and Wellness program, please contact Janet Fox at jfox35@utk.edu or Wendy Smith at wksmith@utk.edu.