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Farmer Highlight - Clif Slade of Slade Farms |
Clif is a second generation farmer in Surry County who is also a member of the AgrAbility Virginia Advisory Group. He grows certified organic sweet potato slips and seed garlic. Years ago, AgrAbility Virginia referred Clif to the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation (DARS) who were able to modify to his tool handles to make them longer with funds from the Easterseals Assistive Technology Fund. Clif is now a returning client with AgrAbility, and we are excited to support him again! Click here to hear his story or here to read more about Clif.
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What's new with AgrAbility Virginia? |
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AgrAbility Virginia Program Evaluation
AgrAbility Virginia Program Coordinator Garland Mason led a mixed-methods program evaluation this winter. Nine farmers and eight service providers completed an extensive survey, and three farmers participated in qualitative interviews. Most AgrAbility farmer clients indicated that AgrAbility was useful and made positive changes in their lives. A publication will be available later this year. Follow our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date. If you would like to provide feedback on AgrAbility Virginia, contact Garland Mason at [email protected] or 540-231-4582
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Staff Highlight: Field Coordinator Jeremy Daubert
Jeremy was raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees from Virginia Tech, he was a herdsman for several large dairy farms even owning and operating STOX Dairy. In 2013, Jeremy began working as the Rockingham County ANR Dairy Extension Agent. Click here to hear how he supports Virginia farmers. To learn more about Jeremy and meet our other field staff, click here.
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Virginia Cooperative Extension First Friday
AgrAbility Virginia staff presented our project to Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) on May 7th during a First Friday educational webinar. VCE is one of the project partners of AgrAbility Virginia and we are excited to expand our partnership across the state. Watch the full video here.
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Visiting the DARS Richmond Rehab Lab
AgrAbility Virginia staff visited the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation (DARS) Lab in Richmond, Virginia in April. DARS and AgrAbility partner to support farmers get access to high quality and custom assistive technologies. Engineer Tom Rybak and Occupational Therapist John Allen gave a tour of the lab, explained current client assistive technologies (such as the tractor step in the above image), and discussed how to better our current partnership to support more farmers in Virginia. Click here to learn more about DARS.
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The AgrAbility Assistive Technology Fund |
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AgrAbility Virginia promotes safety, wellness, and accessibility on the farm through education, rehabilitative services, and assistive technology. Easterseals UCP, an AgrAbility Virginia partner agency, organizes the Assistive Technology Fund as an avenue to support this mission.
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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.
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Follow Us on Social Media for More Frequent Updates |
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AgrAbility Virginia | Garland Mason, Program Coordinator
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AgrAbility Virginia is funded by AgrAbility Project, USDA/NIFA Special Project 2019-2022 (41590-22326) and administered by Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Easterseals 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.
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AgrAbility Virginia Partner Agencies |
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