Lesley Kelly shares her journey through mental health challenges, founding Do More Ag, and building a personal brand that bridges rural life and advocacy.
On this episode of Your Ag Empire, we welcome Lesley Kelly—a farmer, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and the voice behind High Heels & Canola Fields. Lesley shares her deeply personal story of overcoming anxiety and postpartum depression, how it led to co-founding the Do More Ag Foundation, and why she believes talking openly about mental health is critical in farming communities.
Lesley also discusses her transition into leadership after the loss of her father, the challenges of balancing motherhood, business, and grief, and how she’s shaping the future of agriculture for her children. Plus, we dive into how she built partnerships with major brands like Ford and McDonald’s and why mentorship is now a key part of her mission.
In this episode, we cover:
- The mental health crisis in agriculture and why it’s different for rural communities.
- How Lesley and her husband navigated debilitating anxiety and postpartum depression.
- Founding the Do More Ag Foundation to provide real mental health resources for farmers.
- Building the High Heels & Canola Fields brand and turning advocacy into action.
- The power of mentorship and helping the next generation of ag influencers.
- How grief shaped her leadership role on the family farm.
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Connect with Lesley:
- Follow on Instagram @highheelsandcanolafields
- Follow on Facebook
- Subscribe on YouTube
- Follow on X
- Check out her website
Connect with Your Ag Empire:
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Resources & Links:
- Website: Do More Ag Foundation
- 24/7 Peer Support: AgTalk through Do More Ag
- Learn more about the Elite Mastermind and how to become a member
- Protect your livestock investment with Empire Ag’s risk management solutions
- Join The Dirt email subscription
- Book Jonathon as your next speaker
