After a successful turnout and positive feedback from the first few Cattle, Crops & Coffee events, Montezuma County’s SAFE Coalition put more on the calendar.
Three of the events are coming up in April:
- April 10: Bubba’s in Lewis at 11 a.m.
- April 15: Mama Bear’s Bakery in Dolores at 8 a.m.
- April 17: Fahrenheit Coffee in Mancos at 8 a.m.
Farmers and ranchers are invited to come out, order a coffee – free of charge – and “engage in an impactful conversation about the agriculture community,” according to a flyer advertising the event.
The first Cattle, Crops & Coffee was in early February, and conversation centered on drought, federal funding concerns and water, said Nionna Phillips, program manager at the SAFE Coalition.
The SAFE Coalition is almost entirely volunteer-run with the goal of preventing suicide. In the case of these events, the goal is to help farmers and ranchers build community and mitigate mental health stigma, the “be a man” mentality, said Phillips.
“We acknowledge that ranching/farming life can be hard, and want to offer our support in any way that it's needed,” a Montezuma County Facebook post advertising the event reads.
Phillips acknowledged sponsors Cox Conoco, Big R, Montezuma County, CSU Extension, Bubba’s, Basin Co-op Inc., IFA and Fahrenheit Coffee.
In the future, they hope to establish a day and time to have these events on a running basis.
“We want to let them (farmers and ranchers) know we’re a resource,” said Phillips.
