Kathy Ye, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, presented results of a multi-county survey of farm operators, owners and fieldworkers in the San Luis Valley that the team said documents elevated depression, fatigue and food insecurity among respondents.

The study used an online questionnaire developed with local partners and incorporated social‑network analysis and community events to increase participation. Ye said the team compensated respondents with $40 Walmart gift cards and held community events in each county with translators and on-site mental-health staff.

Why it matters: Presenters said the San Luis Valley is a largely rural region with few licensed psychologists, lower incomes and pronounced drought stress—all factors that can worsen physical and behavioral health.

Ye summarized key findings: high fatigue and chronic health conditions among farm operators and workers, with many reporting less than six hours of sleep; 22% of fieldworkers reported feeling unsafe; 8.3% reported a high level of bullying; and about 30% of workers reported symptoms consistent with depression. She said the prevalence of depression was particularly high among farmworkers who reside in the region temporarily, whom the survey showed at about 29%.

The presenter also reported that food insecurity ranked as the top concern for fieldworkers and that water scarcity was the leading worry for operators. Ye described broadly positive job satisfaction even as support outside work was limited for many respondents.

Methods and local engagement: Ye said the team invited 26 organizations to participate in the network portion of the study and had 22 organizations take part. The project identified local entities that farmworkers and operators use for services, and Ye listed several organizations that had strong connections in that network, including Voices, Mobile Clinic and Valley Wild (names as cited in the study).

Barriers and recommendations reported by community organizations included lack of funding, limited infrastructure, the need for after-hours access, home‑visit or mobile services, and Spanish‑speaking providers who understand agricultural work and culture. Ye said the study’s findings underscore the importance of culturally competent, accessible services in rural agricultural communities: “tener terapistas de parte que hablen español y también tener proveedores que culturalmente tienen conocimiento de la agricultura,” she said.

Participants asked about public availability of the findings. Ye said a bilingual community report is available and she offered to share both English and Spanish versions with the working group for distribution.

Discussion versus action: The session recorded presentation and questions; there was no formal vote or adoption of recommendations. Participants expressed interest in continuing data collection and finding funding and partners to expand the work.

What’s next: Ye said the team is seeking partners and funding to continue follow‑up and asked the working group to watch for opportunities to support the project; she offered to circulate the bilingual community report to group members.