Health and hearing screenings at Big Iron help rural residents who often lack access to care

WEST FARGO — For some people who live in rural areas or busy farmers and ranchers who rarely have the opportunity to leave their life's work, free health and hearing screenings offered at the annual Big Iron Farm and Construction Show here may be their only annual checkup.

Jayme Steig, an assistant professor of practice at the North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy, said free health screenings have been offered at Big Iron for nearly 20 years.

"So this isn't just a recent thing," he said.

Those in the agricultural industry are less likely than others to seek out regular health care.

The Journal of Rural Health reported that farmers are nearly 47% less likely than non-farmers to keep up with recommended screenings or even have a regular doctor.

A 2020 advisory by the American