Sowing seeds of support 

Growing up on a farm, Crystal Riese said it was a natural choice for her father, Herb Meier [DipAgric/64], to study agriculture. In 1964, he graduated from the Agriculture Diploma program at the University of Manitoba and was recognized by his classmates as an outstanding student, was the recipient of the Governor General’s Medal and went on to become a leader in the agricultural community.  

 After graduating, Meier started his own farm in Argyle MB, just a few miles away from the farm he was raised on, where he lived with his wife and three children. He also worked as a full-time dairy inspector for the Government of Manitoba.   

“Alongside him being this successful, smart leader and a kind and wonderful family man, there was a part of him that even we did not know,” said Riese. “He was probably overworked, overwhelmed and overstressed, and in 1989 at 44 years of age, my dad died by suicide. To this day it still has a lot of question marks around it.”  

Riese said her dad was known for being an intuitive, sensitive and generous man – both in his personal relationships and professional pursuits. His sudden death left a profound emptiness and deep void for all those who loved and respected him.  

A Legacy Rooted in Support 

Shortly after Meier’s death, his classmates from the Diploma Class of 1964 came together to honour his memory. They established the Herb Meier Memorial and Diploma in Agriculture Class of ’64 Prize.  

Originally established as a direct-entry scholarship, the award was created to recognize and support the next generation of leaders in Manitoba’s agriculture sector. The award is intended for students who not only show academic promise, but who also possess a strong sense of purpose, have demonstrated leadership skills, and a commitment to pursuing a meaningful career in agriculture or farm-produce value-added processing. 

With decades of collective experience in agriculture, members of the Class of 1964 understand just how much the industry has changed and continues to change. Technological advances, climate change, shifting market demands, and global trade have redefined what it means to work in agriculture today. The class hopes this award will empower recipients not just to adapt to these changes, but to lead them. Their vision is to inspire young people to think critically, act creatively, and contribute to the future of Manitoba agriculture in innovative and sustainable ways. As one class member noted, “Agriculture no longer ends at the end of the field.”  

Educating Future Farmers on Mental Health 

Meier’s mental health struggles were part of his story that lived alongside all of the other great things that he was known for. His devotion to the betterment of others lives on in this prize. Riese said she is grateful to his classmates because a legacy supporting education is very fitting for her dad. Even though he ultimately could not help himself, it is great comfort to his family knowing his passion shines on in the new beginnings of young farmers.  

 “I also want to say thank you to Jim Downey and the rest of my father’s classmates that helped to create and contribute to this fund,” she said. “These men and women were already separated from their university lives by 25 years when this happened, but because of what my father meant to them they came together to memorialize him in this way I know would mean so much to him.”  

Mental health struggles, largely anxiety and depression, were a part of Meier’s story as they are a part of many other farmers’ stories due to financial uncertainty and unpredictable weather/seasons. Additionally, the emotional connection a farmer has with their land is a bond difficult to define. The combination of complicated emotions and business uncertainties can lead to great distress for the farmer.  

Riese believes it’s important to include her father’s cause of death in the prize background, so applicants understand who he was and why the prize exists. She recognizes that a lot of people that go into ag come from an ag family, but they maybe don’t realize mental health is a risk factor in this job just like it is in so many others.  

“In a perfect world, I would love to see us educate young people on some of the realities they may face in their chosen career,” she said. “Whether you’re a shift worker in a hospital or whether you’re a farmer or whatever it is that you choose to do, I think education about the lifestyle of these careers should be part of the core curriculum to help ensure the choice that they’re making is right for them.”  

In sharing her father’s story, Riese hopes to bring awareness of suicide because it is often viewed as a selfish act, which is something she has heard many times over in her life. She explains that mental health is sneaky in that the person’s thoughts are logical to them while to those on the outside it’s very illogical. Suicide in particular leaves a complex grief behind for the families that lasts a lifetime. In bringing awareness to the complexity and tragedy of suicide, she hopes to prevent such a loss for another family.  

Resources

UM offers mental health support for students and faculty/staff as well as many other resources on this website. There are also many resources out there for farmers seeking mental health support, such as the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, the National Farmer Crisis Line, 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline and more included on the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s website.  

For more information about supporting the Herb Meier Memorial and Diploma in Agriculture Class of ’64 Prize, please call Jennifer Triggs, Leadership Giving Officer, at 204-299-6641 or email at Jennifer.triggs@umanitoba.ca. 

What does a future fuelled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved. 

Emily Janssens