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August 2024
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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Next AgrAbility all-staff virtual meeting: Monday, September 9, 3:00 p.m. EDT. Look for email details coming soon. | |
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Rooms have been blocked for the 2025 NTW at a rate of $107.00 per night plus a $10 amenity fee and applicable taxes. Please use the following link to book your accommodations online. This link is only valid during the specified room block dates, the arrival and departure dates must be selected from the drop-down menu. Booking Link: 2503AGRABI. Alternatively, individuals may contact the reservations team directly at (866) 383-0443 and provide the group code 2503AGRABI.
Submit NTW presentation and poster proposals using these Google forms : Call for Presentations; Call for Posters.
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The next regional workshop will be held in Guam, October 29-31, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Guam. Rooms have been blocked at a rate of $159 per night plus taxes/fees. This conference involves two classroom days with a tour on day three that focuses on mental health, wellness, and resiliency. The registration and hotel reservation link along with more information can be found at agrability.info/regional.
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AgrAbility NTW Encore Webinar Series: “Creating a Program to Educate OTs & PTs on Rehabbing Farmers and Ranchers.” Wednesday, August 28, 3:00 p.m. ET. Presenter: Emily Jacobson, Nebraska AgrAbility. More
AgrAbility/North Central FRSAN webinar: "Farm Stress Voucher Programs: A Three-State Overview." Wednesday, September 4, 3:00 p.m. ET. More
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National AgrAbility's video "AgrAbility: Renewing Hope, Restoring Productivity with Laurie Hayn" received a Blue Ribbon in the Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Awards Competition sponsored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) during its annual meeting in July.
NAP is starting a supplemental funding working group, and SRAP staff members are welcome to participate. The first meeting is anticipated in late August or early September. Email details to follow.
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The Ann Arbor regional workshop/assistive technology professional training was a success. Forty-four attendees learned about disability etiquette, medical conditions, assistive technology for farming, and assessment models, interviews, observations, and reports. More
National AgrAbility Assistive Technology Specialist Steve Swain, ATP, presented an AgrAbility module to doctoral students in physical therapy at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma, from July 17 through 19. More
Newly archived virtual events:
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The battery-powered Drivable Scissor-Lift Cart elevates the standing platform from 32 inches up to 72 inches, and its 26-inch-wide wheelbase allows navigation through doorways and narrow walkways. The product features twin motors on the dual-direct-drive the rear wheels, electronic controls, safety accelerator pedal, auto-engaging electromagnetic braking system, full-surround operator's cage, emergency stop mechanism, and is engineered to provide proper weight distribution to prevent tipping. Maximum carrying capacity is 350 pounds, maximum speed is 3 mph, and the turning radius is 50 inches.
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The Alaska AgrAbility Project staff participated in multiple outreach events in July.
The non-profit, Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA), delivered a program to the Older Person Action Group at a breakfast meeting in Anchorage. More
Art Nash and Debu Misra of AgrAbility provided outreach at the Deltana State Fair, held in a strongly agricultural community in interior Alaska. Their discussions with fair attendees resulted in two clients requesting support services. More
Art Nash attended the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants annual meeting on July 30 & 31 and spoke with many primary care providers interested in AgrAbility.
Debu Misra, Leslie Shallcross, and a community occupational therapist, Pauline Gannon, attended the July 16-18 AgrAbility-sponsored regional assistive technology professional training in Michigan. This was an excellent training and very valuable for Alaska project staff and project leads.
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California AgrAbility and the Center for Land Based Learning hosted a second Pizza for Producers. The event was held for farmer veterans (and families) and aspiring ones. More
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Later in the month, staff joined partners from Migrant Education at an annual outreach event. Farmworkers from all over the state migrate to the greater Sacramento region for a few weeks during the pear harvest. More
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Vanessa Spero taught at the 2024 Florida Youth Leadership Forum, a unique leadership-training program for high school students with disabilities to connect and learn about leadership and social skills.
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On July 2nd, staff participated in NAP's Zoom discussion on AT expos. They were glad to be able to share ideas with other states about how they have had success with the AT expos that they have done. More
Staff hosted the final webinar in their series with Therese Willkomm on July 17th. The series focused on making low-cost assistive technology one can make or purchase for people who are aging and need more assistance with tasks. Thank you to all of those who participated in the webinars.
Georgia AgrAbility hosted two webinars this month as part of its commitment to providing learning opportunities for veterans getting into agriculture. The first webinar was on July 17th, and the topic was "Farm Marketing," with 28 people attending. More
Staff assisted in training professionals in Mental Health First Aid on July 25th. Fourteen people attended the class, and they work for a variety of different agencies serving rural communities in northeast Georgia.
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Illinois AgrAbility is hosting a virtual, six-week chronic disease self-management class for participants across the state of Illinois who are farmers, members of farming families, veterans who farm, and anyone who deals with a chronic disease of some sort. This class began July 15 and goes through August 19.
Illinois AgrAbility presented about the program and its resources on July 30th at the Edwards County Fair in Albion, IL. This hour-long presentation served as the keynote for the evening events that night at the fair.
Illinois AgrAbility added six more program ambassadors (volunteers) from its partner organization, Community Health Partnerships of Illinois, who will focus their time and efforts on the migrant farmworker population in IL.
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Though client visits and participation in various agricultural-related events continued for Indiana AgrAbility staff, July was also a packed month for the administrative duties of reporting and planning. Using the input from all Project staff, Chuck Baldwin prepared the Project's year-end REEport and continuation proposal for USDA/NIFA. More | |
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AgrAbility program coordinator Bella Russo co-hosted the "Small Tools for Small-scale Farming" workshop with the Maine New Farmer Project at Rustic Roots Farm in Farmington, ME. Programming was provided about small tools and proper use from an efficiency, ergonomic, and injury prevention standpoint on highly physical small farm tasks. More
ME AgrAbility staff participated in the aquaculture learning day in Franklin, ME. Extension staff got a tour of the National Coldwater Marine Aquaculture Center and the UMaine Center for Aquaculture research. More
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The Michigan regional training workshop was attended by the ME AgrAbility program coordinator. It was a positive experience to connect with other SRAPs and related professionals about their programs, as well as learn more about conducting successful on-site farm visits.
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Maine AgrAbility joined the Cooperative Extension pasture specialist for a pasture walk learning day at Springside dairy farm in New Vineyard, ME. It was a good opportunity to learn more about logistics dairy farmers in Maine are working with, as well as an opportunity to network with other producers and service providers about AgrAbility.
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The Michigan AgrAbility Project was thrilled to host the regional training workshop in Ann Arbor in July. There was a great mix of 44 participants from both the medical and ag worlds who attended - and thank you for making the trip from eleven different states and Saipan to be there in person! More
Staff also met with the Michigan Center for Rural Health in July and looks forward to collaborating and connecting with more rural healthcare providers through this network.
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Mackenzie Bevins is a doctoral capstone student from the University of Missouri occupational therapy program. Her time as an occupational therapy student has helped her to recognize the importance of client-centered, evidence-based practice. Her passion for supporting underserved populations has driven her to focus on bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and the agricultural sector. More
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Emily Doosing and her 4-H team worked in the planning and implementation of 4-H Days at the Lake. This day camp included 77 participants for the two days ranging from ages 5 - 18. 4-H day camp included the following health, safety, and well-being sessions: More
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On July 17th, Karen Funkenbusch presented an "Adapting Ergonomic Hand Tools for Women" to the Women Owning Woodland lunch and learn.
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LU ISFOP's Dr. Abusrewil and Bryan de Valdivia demonstrated market gardening tools from the Jesup Wagon 2.0 during a tour of Busby Organic Farm for a group of farm apprentices on July 30th.
Lincoln University Innovative Small Farmers' outreach program farm outreach worker Mary Keeter joined MU's Karen Funkenbusch to present "Practical Demonstration on Safety and Ergonomic Tools" at the Annie's Project Empowering Women in Urban Agriculture class at the University of Missouri Urban East Regional Office in St. Louis on July 29th to a group of beginner women farmers including Mo AgrAbility customers.
Missouri AgrAbility was discussed as resource during each of the BIA-MO Networking Coffees for Professionals in St. Louis (June 4), Springfield (June 11) and Kansas City (June 12). More
During the "Technology Thursday" online meeting (June 20), Maureen Cunningham, BIA-MO executive director, highlighted the use of assistive technologies for farming and ranching through Missouri AgrAbility. More
Maureen Cunningham also discussed Missouri AgrAbility at the Starling Missouri Membership (formerly Missouri Association of Rehab Facilities) meeting, July 16 and 17. The Brain Injury Resource Kits that include Missouri AgrAbility resources were distributed to 40 Case Managers at Mercy Hospital - Springfield on July 31, as part of their staff training regarding brain injury resources.
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Nebraska AgrAbility was promoted in the most recent Nebraska Farm Bureau newsletter. This print publication reaches 16,000 subscribers. The ad was created by the Nebraska AgrAbility team and highlights services, provides contact information, and features photos of AgrAbility clients.
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Nebraska AgrAbility rural rehabilitation specialists Kara Brichacek and Teresa Duffek attended the regional training hosted by the National AgrAbility Project in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They shared their experiences... More
Program Manager Emily Jacobson shared that Nebraska AgrAbility has had a busy summer working with clients and reporting. The team recently hit client number 634!
Fall is quickly approaching, and the team is getting ready for major public outreach events, including the Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days!
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A New Mexico AgrAbility Project (NMAP) representative will meet with the Los Lunas science center to plan our "Autumn Day at the Farm" event.
The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum hopes to open an AgrAbility exhibit on November 1, 2024.
El Palacio magazine is planning a story about NM AgrAbility.
NMAP's apprentice program supervisor Sylvan is settling into her role. Eight apprentices transitioned into job placements or creation of their own farms. NMAP's non-profit partner, Mandy's Special Farm, has been awarded a grant through the health soils program with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
NM Technology Assistance Program and NMAP presented about assistive technology at the ABQ Master Gardner's meeting on July 23.
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Summer is county fair time, and Ohio AgrAbility Project (OAP) staff have been all over the state attending inclusive livestock shows and celebrating "Independence through Agriculture" for people with disabilities. Many of the county fairs in Ohio host ExtraOrdinary Livestock Shows where people with disabilities are partnered with 4-H or FFA mentors to show an animal at the fair. More
Dr. Dee Jepsen's capstone team presented their award=winning capstone project "Obstacles in Designing Assistive Technology within a Skid Loader for Low-Mobility Individuals" for the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at the annual ASABE conference in Anaheim, California in July.
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TN AgrAbility, TN Association of Rescue Squads (TARS), Southern Ag Exchange Network (SAgE), TriGreen Equipment, and Farm Credit Mid-America partnered for the 13th TN Grain Bin Safety/Rescue Awareness Training for 55 rescue personnel and ag producers with a special program, with 116 in attendance, added to the agenda: "Bringing Purpose Through Pain - Legacy of Shawn Hudson Corum." More
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Shelby Bawcum, one of the STAR Center's newest assistive technology specialists, and Eileen Legault, one of University of TN AgrAbility area specialists, represented TN at the 2024 assistive technology professional training in Arbor, MI. Thank you to Ned Stoller, Tess McKeel, and MI AgrAbility for hosting - plus the Mamarow family for sharing their stories and opening their farm. More
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UT Gardens, Frontline Gardens, Appalachian Sustainable Development, and TNAP hosted a veteran horticultural therapy (HT) workshop with three Virginia and five TN farmers. Veterans exposed to nature and gardening have been shown to improve mental health outcomes. More
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Congratulations to the STAR Center, TN AgrAbility's nonprofit partner, on winning the Tennessee Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) award at the 2024 Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award at the International AER Conference in North Carolina! More
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TN AgrAbility promoted on July 4th the new merged Pick TN Products and Homegrown by Heroes logo on social media posts to help promote local agricultural products produced by Tennessee farmer veterans and to support veterans who farm and products were produced in TN.
Pick Tennessee Products Partners with Homegrown By Heroes
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Four TSU OT students and TNAP staff toured the Saddle Up equine therapy facility for their end of summer field work with TN AgrAbility. Saddle Up is a year-round program that gives youth/children with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities with horses.
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TN AgrAbility, STAR Center, the Ky Raising Hope Team, and Gibson County Farm Bureau Women's Leadership group partnered to exhibit safety, health, rescue, and nutrition (ice cream on a hot day) at the 33rd Milan No-Till Field Day, with 1257 in attendance. More
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Texas AgrAbility staff members Makenzie Thomas and Mary Kate Hivnor conducted a 4-H training covering disability in agriculture and agricultural safety for youth. Participants did a relay with different types of disabilities to increase awareness of how to complete farm tasks with different types of disabilities.
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Texas AgrAbility presented at the BattleGround to Breaking Ground bootcamp for 35 veteran and beginning farmers and ranchers. Topics included Texas AgrAbility services, Vocational Rehab, and assistive technology for farmers and ranchers.
Texas AgrAbility Program Manager Makenzie Thomas conducted the webinar "Resources for Farmers and Ranchers with Disabilities." The webinar covered different resources available in Texas to assist farmers and ranchers with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The webinar was attended by 15 people and is recorded for later viewing on the Texas AgrAbility YouTube channel.
Texas AgrAbility hosted the webinar "Vocational Rehab for Farmers and Ranchers." It covered ways that farmers and ranchers can access VR services. The webinar was attended by 17 participants and is recorded for later viewing.
Texas AgrAbility hosted the webinar "Getting Started with USDA NRCS." It covered different resources available in Texas to assist farmers and ranchers with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The webinar was attended by 15 people and is recorded for later viewing on the Texas AgrAbility YouTube Channel.
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AgrAbility of Utah was able to present at two FFA chapter officer leadership training events this month. The first one was in Orem, Utah, on July 16, and the second one was in Morgan, UT, on July 17. Over 400 FFA students and advisors attended these trainings from central and northern Utah.
On July 29, AgrAbility staff set up a table and visited with many of the 100 plus attendees at the annual Utah Wool Grower's Convention in Heber City, Utah. Some of the many topics included predator control, risk management, and effective grazing. Utah ranks 5th in the nation in sheep and lamb production.
AgrAbility was able to present to many farmers and ranchers at Utah State University Extension's Field Days in Cedar City, UT on July 29. Topics included alternative crops, sainfoin, and irrigation research.
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In July, Virginia AgrAbility was actively engaged in various initiatives underscoring its commitment to supporting the agricultural community. The team presented at the Virginia Dairy Expo and conducted a farmer stress workshop in partnership with the Rockingham County Farm Bureau, addressing relevant mental health issues. | |
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At VSU Randolph Farms, they hosted a Life Project/AgrAbility assistive technology workshop where 63 attendees explored topics such as heirs property, farm stress, and assistive technology, thus fostering valuable learning and networking opportunities. Former and current AgrAbility Virginia clients sat on a farmer panel and shared valuable insight into their operations and resources.
Currently, Virginia AgrAbility is managing 37 open cases and is assisting two farmers with applications for funding through Easterseals PORT Health to secure equipment alterations to improve usability.
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Washington State AgrAbility Co-Coordinator Deb Eidsness recently completed COMET training to become an instructor. She also completed MHFA training and is in the middle of the instructor training for veteran certification and looking forward to youth certification. She later completed a farm assessment and was able to provide some needed A.T.
Deb Eidsness is in full fair mode heading into August. She will participate in five county and regional events including terminal market shows and sales. These events can be very stressful for many of youth exhibitors, mentally and physically. More
Cheryl Reese, the new eastern Washington co-coordinator, is currently working to find a way to partner with another organization to be at the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima that runs September 20th-29th. She has been going to monthly Grange meetings, as well as monthly board meetings, at the Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Yakima. More
Meanwhile, Debbie Fredricks, farm stress and AgrAbility co-coordinator, tabled for two days at the Cowlitz Fair.
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AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff attended a movement workshop hosted by Labor-Movement where participants learned about movement health and wellness for injury prevention, increased efficiency, and career longevity.
AgrAbility of Wisconsin's outreach program coordinator, Michelle Bachand, presented about AgrAbility of Wisconsin at two virtual meetings this month to spread awareness of the program. The first was for the Extension Agriculture Institute staff on July 10th, and the second was for Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Tribal ADRC directors on July 24th. Between the two meetings, there were nearly 200 participants.
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AgrAbility for Africa staff have been fairly successful in connecting rural children to rehabilitation services in urban communities. However, during follow-ups, staff often learn that many of these children have dropped out of the programs due to logistical challenges. More | |
Lindsey Head transferred from the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida to the University of Florida. Lindsey's duties within the AgrAbility program as the case coordinator will remain the same. The email address for Lindsey is now lhead3@ufl.edu. | |
Texas AgrAbility welcomes Kara Smallegan, OTD capstone student, to our project. Kara will be working with Texas AgrAbility and Easterseals Michigan to develop a guidebook for occupational therapists working with farmers and ranchers with disabilities. We are excited to have Kara on the project this semester! | |
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Cheryl Reese is the new eastern Washington co-coordinator and Kathy Stilwell is retiring. Cheryl had this to say about her new position; "I am thrilled to be back at Extension working with a program that focuses on a subject that I am very passionate about."
Kathy Stilwell, when asked about her retirement, said this: "While I'm looking forward to retirement, I will treasure my nearly 20 years in Extension and have been very proud to spend the last 2-1/2 years working with our team in the agricultural community to find ways to help reduce stress and help farmers who need assistance."
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Click titles below for news stories featuring AgrAbility projects.
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Click titles below for other news of interest to AgrAbility staff members.
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