As part of the Rural Stress Survival Series, "Honey, I Shrunk The Farm" was written for farm families, counselors, medical professionals, clergymen and rural community leaders. The book furthers Dr. Farmer's reputation as a nationally syndicated newspaper and magazine columnist and popular radio personality on farm family mental health issues. One dollar from the proceeds of each book sale will be donated to the MeritCare Foundation in Fargo. MeritCare Foundation will reinvest the donations from these books into Dr. Farmer's retreats for farmers and their families.
"Consider this. From Montana and North Dakota on the north, to Texas and New Mexico in the south, between the Rockies on the west and the tall grass prairies in the east, is the area known as the Great Plains. Though encompassing a 6th of the land mass of the contiguous United States, it is home to only 6.5 million people or about 1/40th of the US population. There is a reason for that. It has the hottest summers, coldest winters, largest daily and weekly temperature swings, strongest inland winds, most severe droughts and paralyzing blizzards, the worst hailstroms and most locusts. Though it can be tremendously productive, its fragile ecology is fickle and often drives people from the land. The loss of people spurs a vicious cycle of an ever-shrinking economy which in turn pressures further out-migration. Consequently, there are fewer and fewer people to volunteer their time to community functions which are the heart and soul of rural life." - Dr. Val Farmer
Dr. Val Farmer, Psychologist, brings professional experience to his counseling and a concise, researched writing style to his newspaper columns. His professional portfolio includes a 1976 Ph.D. In Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona, twenty years of counseling experience, four years as executive director of a Midwestern mental health center, and five years as a social worker and probation officer. A steadfast, loving husband and the father of five daughters and two sons, he has gained personal experience and a practical approach in dealing with problems. As a newspaper columnist since 1984, Farmer has shared concise, ever-wise, down-to-earth information which has enriched the lives of countless readers. His range of topics and the sound values that underpin his columns give practical, useful insight. Dr. Farmer has become a major voice in the area of rural psychology. His syndicated newspaper column as well as his weekly guest appearance on the national radio call-in program, "AgriTalk News Network," have provided a way for him to help today's farmers with the challenges of rural living. Farmer has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline and on PBS-TV in North and South Dakota. His article, "Broken Heartland," was published in "Psychology Today." Farmer was a featured columnist for five years in "Farm Wife News" magazine and has written for "Women's World." He also has been quoted in "USA Today" and "The Wall Street Journal." His specialty in working with farming and rural issues was recently featured in the August 1996 "Monitor," journal of the American Psychological Association.
