Image courtesy KFB

Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) announced it has named Sarah Gideon of Jackson County and Thomas Eisenbarth of Pottawatomie County as the 2025 Rural Minds Matter Advocate of the Year award recipients.

Now in its second year, the awards recognize Kansans who show exceptional leadership, compassion, and dedication to improving mental health awareness and support in rural communities. Access to mental health resources can be limited in rural areas, making the efforts of advocates like Gideon and Eisenbarth especially important in reducing stigma, raising awareness, and promoting well-being.

Gideon, executive director of the Health Innovations Network of Kansas (HINK), received the Above 35 Advocate of the Year award. Through initiatives such as the Coffee Cup Project, QPR and COMET training, and primary care provider education, she has expanded mental health outreach and access across northeast Kansas and beyond.

Eisenbarth, a farmer, rancher, and precision agriculture instructor at Highland Community College’s Baileyville campus, was recognized as the Young Advocate of the Year. He has shared personal experiences with mental health struggles and used his platform, including writing for “Grass and Grain,” to normalize conversations about mental health within the agriculture community.

Gideon will be honored at KFB’s Annual Meeting in December, while Eisenbarth will be recognized at the Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference in early 2026. Both will receive cash awards and media coverage highlighting their advocacy. Rural Minds Matter aims to raise awareness, provide resources, and reduce stigma surrounding mental health in rural Kansas.