Cade Stanek

Peer Mentor (He/Him/His)

SPECIAL INTERESTS: Rural mental health & Recovery support | Community Building

Cade was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Chippewa Valley.  During his youth, he was involved in sports, 4-H, and FFA.  After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where his passion for dairy farming took off.

During college, he decided that he wanted to return to his family farm and go into business with his parents.  Unfortunately during the first couple of years of farming, the family went through some challenges and things hit a breaking point. The family had to make some tough decisions and they worked together to keep the dream alive for 12 more years.

Farming, and the stresses that came along with it, were a lot for Cade. He learned to lean on his support network and focus on the things he loves - like working with animals.

However, the winter of 2022 was a tipping point for Cade and his family.  After having a conversation about how money was going to be tight for the following year, a topic that comes up for a lot of farmers, they made the incredibly hard decision to finally transition out of dairy farming.

In October of 2023, the last of his cows were sold. 

Cade is now transitioning into life after farming, working on finding new passions, and learning how to use his experience to help others. He knows firsthand the unique benefits and challenges that come with growing up in a rural area and how being a farmer is not just a “job” for most people - it’s part of the fabric of who they are. Cade believes that his lived experience equips him with a special insight into this mindset, allowing him to connect with other farmers on a deep, personal level.

By fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual understanding, Cade aims to create spaces where rural community members can openly discuss their challenges and seek help without fear of judgment.

In his free time, Cade enjoys a round of golf, playing strategy games, gardening, and offering a helping hand to his farming friends.