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Somerset farmer’s viral song and peer outreach spotlight farmer stress
Summary
Somerset County farmer Jeff Cole told the Agriculture & Rural Affairs committee how closing his family dairy in 2022 led to depression and inspired his song 'Empty Barn,' which he said opened doors for peer conversations; Cole urged farmer‑to‑farmer visibility and announced a Barnstorming Tour to raise funds and awareness.
Jeff Cole, a fourth‑generation Somerset County dairy farmer turned mental‑health advocate, told legislators and witnesses at a Pennsylvania Farm Show hearing that closing his dairy in 2022 led to deep grief and a period of depression. Cole said he chose to channel that pain into a song, "Empty Barn," which he said resonated widely and helped other farmers speak about loss.
Cole described the visceral moment of selling the herd—"When the last of the cows, my stubborn little Dolly, was finally loaded onto the trailer ... it…
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