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Family harvests corn after suicide of farmer who planted it

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Brian Webster’s family shares a message about farmers and depression.

ELLSWORTH, Wis. — One-hundred 43 harvests have come and gone since the 1880 founding of the Webster farm.

But this one feels different to Mitchell Webster.

“I’m not used to driving the combine,” says the young man behind the wheel of the hulking machine.  

Standing at the edge of the cornfield, Mitchell’s sister Jennifer agrees. This fall’s harvest doesn’t feel right.

“That’s dad’s office, he’s supposed to be in there,” she says, looking off toward the combine.

Brian Webster would be in the combine cab, bringing in the corn crop he planted last spring, if not for the morning of Aug. 3.

Brian’s wife Kim found him that day at his semi-truck. 

At age 58, Brian had died by suicide.

“He was my love of my life,” Kim says through her tears. “I just wish he would have talked to me.”

The Webster’s story is all too familiar.


The National Rural Health Association says the suicide rate among farmers is 3.5 times the general population.  

Key reasons cited by the group ring true to Brian’s family.

“You’re at the mercy of all these different obstacles,” Jennifer says. “And a lot of it you don’t have control over.”

Unpredictable weather and financial pressures bear down hard on farmers, who are often reluctant to seek mental health care. 

“There’s still a pretty big stigma around mental health and keeping your feelings to yourself.” Jennifer says. “It’s a very, unfortunately, still a common thing in agriculture.”

Brian’s family decided to address the stigma head on in his obituary, writing in the first line that Brian had died from “complications with depression.”  

Few of Brian’s neighbors knew he had struggled with the mental illness that had run in his family.

The condition was passed on again to Brian’s youngest son, Thomas.


“People judge me, I guess, whatever, it’s a real thing,” Thomas says as he stops to take a breath while milking the family’s 75 cows. “It’s an illness, but I’m not scared to let people know I have it.” 

Once a month, between milkings, he drives from Ellsworth, Wisconsin to Red Wing, Minnesota to see a therapist.

“Talking to people about it makes me feel better, I mean, that’s what seems to help me,” he says.

Brian had also sought medical help. His doctor had switched him to a new anti-depressant shortly before he died.

“It’s really hard to know what was the tipping point exactly, if there was one thing, if there was multiple things,” Jennifer says. “It’s hard for me to make sense that he’s not here.”


Brian’s family buried him next to his parents within sight of his farm.   

Then, a few weeks later, they emailed KARE 11 asked for help sharing their story. 

The Websters had some things they wanted to say.

“I want farmers to know,” Brian’s wife says, before broadening her message. “Not just farmers, just anybody.”

Kim, a commodities trader, has taken a lead role in the family’s outreach efforts.

“It’s okay to talk about it, it’s okay to get help, it’s okay to be on medication, it’s okay to not be okay,” she says. 

The Websters have set aside memorial money from Brian’s funeral to help bring the Farmer Angel Network to western Wisconsin. The organization, launched in southern Wisconsin, is made up primarily of farmers helping other farmers who are dealing with depression. 


The family has established a GoFundMe page to raise additional funds for the project.  

The Websters know, though private, the former combine driver had another attribute.

“Dad always wanted to help people,” Mitchell says. “If he could help somebody, he would.”


Helping now seems like the one thing that could bring some healing to this hurtful harvest. 

“Please go get help,” Jennifer says. “There’s really no shame in getting help.”

If you or someone you know is facing a mental health crisis, there is help available from the following resources:


Watch the latest videos from the Land of 10,000 Stories in our YouTube playlist and subscribe to the Land of 10,000 Stories Complete Collection on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries



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Twins CEO Dave St. Peter to step down, major transition ahead

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A report on the team’s website says current general Manger Derek Falvey will transition to the business side of the Twins’ operation.

MINNEAPOLIS — A tumultuous offseason for the Minnesota Twins is continuing with news the ballclub’s longtime president is stepping down. 

Dave St. Peter, Twins President and CEO for 22 years, will leave his position and transition into an advisory role. St. Peter made the announcement to employees throughout the organization Tuesday morning. 

St. Peter’s departure will have a domino effect: Current Twins General Manager Derek Falvey will slide from his role supervising the on-field product to the business side of the organization, assuming the job of President-CEO. Assistant GM Jeremy Zoll, who was recently promoted following the departure of Thad Levine, will become General Manager of baseball operations. 

All this is happening in the wake of October’s announcement that the Pohlad family is exploring a possible sale of the franchise following a season of payroll cuts and growing fan dissatisfaction. 

“Twins fans, players, staff and certainly our family are better for the 35 years that Dave St. Peter has brought his truly one-of-a-kind leadership to our team and community,” said Twins Executive Chairman Joe Pohlad. “I have had the good fortune to work alongside Dave for the past 18 years and experience firsthand how he leads with integrity, compassion and an unmatched dedication to our organization and fans. I will always admire Dave’s commitment to do right by the Twins.”

“Dave St. Peter is a very special person, friend and leader,” added controlling owner Jim Pohlad. “Our family and the Minnesota Twins would not be where we are today without Dave’s skill and lifelong commitment.”

St. Peter started with the Twins as an intern back in 1990 and made his way up the ranks, being named team president in 2002. In a letter to the team’s fanbase, St. Peter said he initiated discussions with the Pohlad family over the past two years to develop a succession plan that would lead the club into a new era. 

“While my personal Twins journey has been a dream come true, in recent years I have sensed a calling to explore new professional challenges and a growing desire to spend more time with the people I love the most,” the outgoing St. Peter wrote. 

“The Twins have been a central part of my life for longer than I remember, but I find myself at peace with the knowledge I ran the race as best I could. It’s simply time to hand the baton to someone else.”

St. Peter explained in the months to come he will work closely with the Pohlads as they consider a potential sale of the team “and the best possible outcome for this franchise and the fans.”

The Twins are holding an open house event Tuesday at 2 p.m. and will further discuss the team’s leadership transition. KARE 11 will have the latest developments here on the website and broadcast. 





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Red Cow offers Thanksgiving meal kits

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Love a yummy meal, but hate having to cook it? This is an option for you.

MINNEAPOLIS — If you love a good Thanksgiving meal but don’t have the time to make it, consider Red Cow for your event this season. 

The kit includes roasted turkey breast, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese, assorted artisan rolls, and pumpkin pie. The meal costs $285 and feeds 6-8 people. 

You can pick up your feast at Red Cow in Uptown on 2626 Hennepin Ave. Place your order at this link by noon on Nov. 25. 

Is your mouth watering yet? If you’d like, you can add on glazed ham, dark turkey meat, cranberries, brussels sprouts, wild rice stuffing, roasted salmon, apple and honey chevre salad, and charcuterie boards. Corporate chef Adam Lerner visited KARE 11 News at Noon to dish on a few of the holiday eats. 



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How are Minnesota teachers addressing kids’ bad behavior?

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PEW Research Center found 68% of teachers said they’ve experienced verbal abuse from a student such as being yelled at or threatened.

ST PAUL, Minn — Bad behavior in classrooms is a nationwide problem that has only worsened since the pandemic. 

A recent National Education Association (NEA) survey found teachers cited “disruptive and violent behavior” in the classroom last year as one of their top concerns. A PEW Research Center report found about 68% of teachers said they’ve experienced verbal abuse from a student such as being yelled at or threatened. 

About 21% said this happens a few times a month. 

Teachers also report students show disrespect by getting up in the middle of class or skipping class altogether. So the question many people have is why are we seeing this uptick in bad behavior? And how can behavior improve?

To learn more, KARE 11 morning anchor Alicia Lewis spoke with Angel Thomas from St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS). Thomas, a teacher by trade, is now a supervisor with the Office of School Support. 

She talks with teachers about their day-to-day with students at SPPS and says there is a lot more pressure on both students and educators post-pandemic with mental wellness at an all time high.

“You have a class of 25 to 35 little people, right? They all have different lived experiences,” Thomas said. “We don’t know what they’re going through at any given moment, right? Some kids are wondering where their next meal is gonna come from. Some kids are wondering where they’re gonna sleep at night. Some kids may have experienced a traumatic event just the night before and they’re at school. It’s the same for adults or teachers, right?”

SPPS is one of 37 districts in the state that utilize the Minnesota Department of Education’s “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports systems” also known as PBIS. It’s a multi-tiered program that trains educators on preventing problem behavior, teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, and providing intensive interventions for students with more significant needs. 

Thomas said PBIS is working.

“I always say the framework is simple for a lack of a better word. It’s not. But there are core components. What do we want students to do? How do we recognize them when they do it? How do we respond when they don’t? And then how are we using data to make decisions?” Thomas said. 

“We know that recognizing positive behaviors is one of the best ways to actually change or to continue that behavior and to decrease the unexpected behaviors.”

Thomas added when students have a voice and feel a sense of community, they are more likely to exhibit good behaviors in the classroom. But what works for one student, in terms of dealing with behavior, might not work for another. 



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