Students enrolled in Dr. Anna Mullany’s Rural Public Health class this fall learned how migrant workers contribute to the region by working in various roles in factories and fields–growing food, tobacco, working in poultry processing and even harvesting Christmas trees at local tree farms. Students also learned about a typical migrant journey to the United States and received insights into what a worker’s daily life is like. They applied what they learned by writing a series of communications called "Letters to Farmworkers" which was recently published in the Watauga Democrat.
By partnering with the Farmworker Health team from High Country Community Health (HCCH), Mullany said the students were able to hear from the team working closely to help local farm workers with health outreach including a mobile clinic that visits job sites to offer medical consultations and preventative health services.
“Often the human stories behind agricultural work, whether that is in poultry factories, tobacco fields, or landscaping are obscured from general knowledge–many people are not aware of the necessary labor to maintain the region’s rural beauty or that allow families to continue annual traditions like decorating a freshly cut Frasier fir tree during the holidays,” said Mullany. “This year, my students shared what they learned by writing “Letters to Farmworkers” to say thanks to the farmworkers and the dedicated HCCH farmworker team that works to keep them healthy.”
Letters to Farmworkers from App State students (published in the Watauga Democrat on Oct. 26, 2026.) (Image provided shows students (from left) Mary Thomas, Alexa Guerrini, Casey Wilcox and Caden Savage who participated in writing letters)
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Dear Farmworkers,
Before learning more about the experiences of farmworkers, I never fully understood what exactly was happening behind the scenes on Christmas tree farms. Driving past, you see beautiful rows of trees, but most people are unaware of the physical labor, stress, and pain lots of farmworkers go through. Are we forgetting that these are real people? With real lives and families? I want people to understand that the Christmas trees we see every year come from hardworking individuals, who deal with long hours, emotional stress, and physical pain. I hope more people become aware of what farmworkers go through, and treat their work with respect and appreciation. I think more attention should be given to protecting the farmworkers health, and ensuring fair treatment and wages. To the farmworkers who do this work; I want you to know that your labor is noticed and appreciated. You deserve safe working conditions, and the same respect as any other worker. Thank you for all of the work you do, and the sacrifices you make for communities.
Sincerely,
Emma Cilley
Senior, Psychology & Public Health
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Dear Farmworkers,
I want to start by thanking you for everything you are doing for this country, a country that isn’t always kind to you. It might just be a job for you, but you support the economy, the food industry, and the culture here. And you do it while being far from your family, a task I cannot imagine doing. Yet, you wake up every morning and face the day the same as the last.
Agricultural work isn’t easy, so I hope you guys are taking care of yourselves the best way you can. No job is worth your health and well-being.
I want to wish you, your coworkers, and your friends and family well. I pray for your safety and health. Thank you.
SeeJay Padilla
Senior, Public Health
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Dear Farmworkers,
Thank you for your hard work! I always love going by places like the Christmas Tree Farm outside of Boone. The work that both you and High Country Community Health does is so important, and I’m so glad you came to North Carolina. I hope our state has been making you feel welcome and has been kind to you!
Alexa Guerrini
Junior, Psychology for Health Services
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Dear Farmworkers,
I have lived in North Carolina my whole life, surrounded by farmlands, never giving them much thought. My favorite part of Boone is its views. Something that always sticks out to me is the beautiful landscape of mountains with all the Christmas trees perfectly in a row, adding to the already breathtaking view. That’s all they were to me, just Christmas trees. As I have started learning more about these Christmas trees, I will not be able to let them pass me by without thinking of the intense labor and sacrifice you have made and the passion and pride you have for your work. You are appreciated and you deserve care and support.
Sincerely,
Megan Pepper
Senior, Public Health
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Dear Farmworkers
Since I live only a short distance from where I grew up, it is very hard for me to imagine going somewhere far away from my friends and family for a long period of time. Being separated for nine months at a time sounds very mentally taxing. Not only this, but the process to even get access to come work on the farms sounded very grueling and long. You are incredibly strong and brave for supporting your family from a distance. It takes so much dedication to do what you are doing.
Sincerely,
Mary Thomas
Junior, Public Health
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Dear Farmworkers and HCCH
I wanted to write this letter to say thank you to HCCH for taking the time to come to my class and educate us on the entire process of the workers. There were a lot of things I failed to even realize about how complex receiving the slightest bit of healthcare can be for people. The idea of a mobile health clinic to reach people where they can was really cunning and inspiring.
Thanks
Caden Savage
Senior, Public Health
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Dear HCCH and Farmworkers,
When it comes to Christmas trees, I think of the same person who my family always gets ours from. This is a tradition that is consistent and joyful. I would like to say thank you again to the mobile clinic workers. I want others to know that health is necessary everywhere, not just in hospitals. Deep in our mountains of Appalachia there are those who live a very different life than us and those that need the clinic's help. It shows me how important it is to bring healthcare directly to communities rather than expecting everyone to be able to travel to a hospital or to a traditional healthcare setting.
Sincerely,
Casey Wilcox
Senior, Public Health
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Dear Farmworkers and HCCH,
I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for the work you do and the ways it has touched my life. Every Christmas, my family has a tradition of picking out Christmas trees together. We always try to find the biggest, most beautiful tree for my grandmother, and seeing it standing in her living room has become one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I have come to recognize the incredible time, patience, and skill that go into growing them.
Hearing about the challenges you may face encouraged me to reflect on the opportunities and comforts I sometimes take for granted. As a college student living away from my family, I recognize that my distance from home is a choice I made to pursue an education. This reminds me to appreciate not only the opportunities I have, but also the people whose work makes so much of my daily life possible.
I am also grateful to have learned about the work High Country Community Health does to support agricultural workers in our community.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Eva Davenport
Junior, Nursing
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Dear Farmworkers,
Thank you for everything you have done. The long days, hard work, and sacrifices you’ve had to make deserve so much more recognition and appreciation. You help create something that brings to much joy to families during the holiday season. Hearing about the experiences and hardships many of you have faced to come work in the U.S. really stayed with me. I hope you and your family experience the same happiness and warmth that your work helps bring into so many of our homes every Christmas.
Sincerely,
Kathy Nguyen
Senior, Exercise Science
