Maine Land, Sea & Forest Wellness Forum

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Cost: Sliding scale $10-$40

Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center
11 Inn Road, Hallowell, Maine 04347 (Google Maps)

Please register by September 4, 2026

 

Join this action-oriented, professional networking event.

Do you work with loggers, fishermen, and farmers? Join us for this unique professional development and networking event for service providers who care about physical and psychological health in the heritage industries. Expect a day of learning, networking, rejuvenation and connection.

Who: For service providers working with Maine’s fishing, farming, and forest/logging communities who care about  stresses and health/wellness needs.  For healthcare practitioners, industry professionals, municipal leaders, policymakers and/or providers with insurance, finance, healthcare, or legal expertise that want to do more to support the people who work the water, land and forests of Maine, and their families.

Please attend and bring along a professional colleague, healthcare provider, or municipal leader – someone you’d like to collaborate with more – both of you can sign up on the registration page!

~ Join the momentum to support heritage industry producer wellness. ~

REGISTER 

What to expect:

  • Build new professional relationships, cross-pollinate ideas for programs and research
  • Connect with resources to support farmers, fishermen, and loggers
  • Hear about existing programs, resources and research
  • Learn what’s happened in the industries since the September 2025 Forum

 

Morning Agenda:

Legislative and research updates, a producer panel

Six breakouts to choose from – select where you want to be.

  1. Body and Mind Health 101: Design your own presentation for colleagues about the importance of addressing both Mental and Physical Health for farmers, fishermen and loggers and how to have starter conversations with producers.
  2. Researchers Unite!: Meet and collaborate with other researchers working with heritage producer data sets or discuss new projects
  3. What, Who & How of Peer Networks: Learn about best practices and model programs for forming peer networks of producers
  4. Health Care Options:  Meet to learn more about direct primary care, health insurance co-ops, and mobile healthcare and discuss options for the heritage industries
  5. Temperature Check: How are you doing? Connect with others in a small group to discuss your work and work/life balance
  6. Invisible Challenges: Why is this so hard sometimes? Presentation on compassion fatigue and ambiguous loss.

Afternoon Agenda:

  • Lightening Showcase: speed resource sharing from organizations serving Maine and the northeast
  • Networking by sector: discuss what’s thought provoking from the day, generate ideas for future collective work
  • Facilitated large group session: focused on keeping up the momentum. You’ll leave with at least one action-oriented next step.

Food: Morning snacks, a catered lunch, coffee and tea throughout the day, and snacks for the drive home

A networking event to create networks of care for farmer, fishermen, and logger health and wellbeing.

Registration is now open. 

Please register HERE.

Deadline for registration: September 4, 2026

Cost: Sliding scale $10-$40 to defray costs of this professional development event. Scholarships are available upon request. Email leslie.forstadt@maine.edu before registering to receive a voucher.

Any funds not needed to cover event expenses will be reallocated to programs and outreach to support programming for wellness in the heritage industries. We are offering a sliding scale fee for registration at this event and recognize that not all organizations can provide funds for professional development. Still, if you are in a position to contribute something toward the event, it will help make this networking and solution-focused event a success. Scholarships are available upon request. Thank you!

With support from The Northeast Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network through the USDA/NIFA

 

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension

 

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).