Fall 2020 E-Newsletter
We are working safely through COVID!
We have been supporting clients, including veteran and beginning farmers, through the pandemic. Field staff are conducting safe farm visits, attending virtual conferences, and providing information during socially distant events. We are still connecting farmers to the resources they need.
What's new with AgrAbility Virginia?
Affordable Flexible Robotics to Aid Farmers

Engineers at Virginia Tech are beginning to test wearable flexible technology for motions including shoveling, picking and moving objects while bent over, climbing ladders and stairs, moving boxes from floor to waist height, and pushing/pulling carts or pallet jacks. To learn more about the Partnership for Innovation grant, click here. For an overview of the Exosuit, click here.
Staff Highlight: Garland Mason

Garland Mason has been the AgrAbility Virginia Program Coordinator for almost one year. She is the person behind the scenes when folks contact us. With years of farming experience and program coordination, she is essential to the success of our programming. To learn more about Garland and meet our other field staff, click here.
Farm Safety, Health, & Wellness Initiative Resources

These webinars, publications, and other resources addressing agritourism safety, diversification of farm income, mental health, operating machinery, farm stress, aging, and more are now available on our website, click here.
We're now on Twitter!

We've added Twitter to our social media outreach. The National AgrAbility Project is active on the platform, and now so are we. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook by searching the handle @AgrAbilityVA Click here to go directly to our Twitter.
The AgrAbility Assistive Technology Fund
AgrAbility Virginia works to help farmers and farm workers with injuries or disabilities to continue working safely and efficiently. Easterseals UCP, an AgrAbility Virginia partner agency, organizes the Assistive Technology Fund as an avenue to support this mission.
Want to donate to the Assistive Technology Fund?

1) Write a check to Easterseals UCP with "AgrAbility Virginia" written in the memo section and mail to:
Easterseals UCP North Carolina & Virginia
201 East Main Street
Salem, VA 24153

2) Call our office to donate over the phone with a credit card: (540) 777-7325

3) Click the orange button below to link to our online donation page.
Follow Us on Social Media for More Frequent Updates
AgrAbility Virginia | Garland Mason, Program Coordinator
540-231-4582 | [email protected]
AgrAbility Virginia is funded by AgrAbility Project, USDA/NIFA Special Project 2019-2022 (41590-22326) and administered by Virginia Tech, Easter Seals UCP North Carolina/Virginia, Inc. and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States; M. Ray McKinnie, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, United States.
AgrAbility Virginia Partner Agencies
Did you receive this email from someone other than AgrAbility Virginia?
Want to make sure you never miss another eNews?
Click the link below to join our mailing list.
Our biannual newsletters are sent each May and November.