Deep Rooted: Breaking Farm Silence for Connection and Hope - Hay Are We Okay?

In this episode, host Merle Massie speaks with director Kyle McDonnell and producer Van Wickiam about Deep Rooted — a 33-minute documentary tackling the mental health crisis in Canadian agriculture. Filmed in Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Ontario, the film profiles four farmers who speak openly, many for the first time, about their struggles with mental health. The result is raw, moving, and deeply powerful.

We hear from farmers Darryl Boersma and Lynn Cronk (Ontario), rancher Kole Norman (Saskatchewan), and farmer Lesley Kelly (Saskatchewan). We also drop in on a Saskatoon screening at the Broadway Theatre, where the response is clear: suffering in silence is not the answer.

Through Deep Rooted, McDonell and Wickiam aim to dismantle shame and silence, replacing it with connection, courage, and community support.

Produced by Public Space Productions, the film is being screened at agricultural events across Canada and is available for business and community showings. As the filmmakers emphasize, farmers and their families are often quite isolated. They say the best way to experience Deep Rooted is by watching it together, in a room with other people. Find out how to bring a screening to your community.