JONESBORO, Ark. — Northeast Arkansas farmers face intense pressures, from catastrophic weather events to volatile market conditions, but they don’t have to face them alone. Apex Ag Solutions recently announced the launch of Tailgate Time, a new nonprofit mental health resource open to everyone in the Northeast Arkansas agriculture industry.
Free licensed counseling support is available to local farmers and their family members. For professionals working for local ag businesses that offer health benefits, counseling services can be billed to their insurance providers.
“Our top priority is to raise awareness of and improve access to these essential services for farmers, their families, and those who serve the agricultural community,” Bane said.
Private in-person sessions are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Apex’s new full-service location on County Road 680 in Bay. When Apex acquired the 7.5-acre property last fall, it included more than 50,000 square feet of space, including offices that now accommodate Tailgate Time’s team of three mental health professionals. Remote telehealth sessions are also offered for farmers who find it difficult to access the clinic during regular hours. On-site emergency support is also available.
With farm bankruptcies continuing to rise and a suicide rate more than double the national average for agricultural workers, according to the National Rural Health Association, the need for specialized, local mental health support has never been more urgent. Despite the seriousness of the crisis, social stigma around mental health continues to be a major barrier to help-seeking.
“Tailgate Time is a place where farmers can talk openly, knowing their privacy is protected and stigma is left at the door,” said Mandy Young, Agricultural Mental Health Outreach Training
Director for Tailgate Time. “Here, we help you process difficult issues, heal from trauma, build resilience tools, lead your family by example, and make self-care a part of staying strong—for yourself and those who depend on you.”
Being part of Tailgate Time means knowing you never have to face tough days alone. Our support is completely confidential, your privacy is protected, and the stigma stops here,” said Young. “We help farmers safely process what they’re facing, develop tools to keep moving forward, lead their families by example, and make self-care a routine, because staying strong isn’t just about the work you do, it’s about caring for the life you live.”
For Young, a licensed clinical social worker and native of Northeast Arkansas, being part of Tailgate Time is both a professional and personal calling.
“After many years in mental health practice, I have developed a strong commitment to supporting individuals, strengthening marriages, and helping families thrive,” she said. “Coming from a farming and rodeo family, I understand the culture, values, and challenges of agricultural life. That lived experience allows me to relate genuinely and serve with both insight and respect for the resilience of this community.”
Like Young, Jonathan Bobbitt, a longtime row crop producer in Bay, understands the critical need for mental health services and support for the agricultural community in Northeast Arkansas. He now serves as the organization’s director of client relations and a board member.
“I joined the Tailgate Time team because of my passion to help other farmers who are struggling mentally,” said Bobbitt. “The hope was if I spoke about my fight with depression, it would allow others to feel comfortable enough to reach out for help.”
In addition to counseling services, Tailgate Time will host upcoming workshops with local farmers and agricultural business owners to train volunteers in mental health support.
Beyond initial funding from Apex, Tailgate Time has received donations from several local businesses. The organization is actively seeking long-term funding to endow its free care services for farmers and expand coverage into farming communities just outside Northeast Arkansas.
For more information on Tailgate Time, visit www.tailgatetime.org or email mandy.young@tailgatetime.org.
About Apex Ag Solutions
Founded in 2020, Apex Ag Solutions, LLC, in Jonesboro, is the premier provider for seed, nutritional products, drone precision ag services, and consultation services for farmers in the Arkansas Delta and Southeast Missouri. Apex is a proud locally owned Beck’s dealer and one of the Atlanta, Ind.-based company’s top producers nationally. For more information, visit www.apexagsolutions.net.
