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December 2025
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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2026 NTW Updates
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Registration is open! The planning committee has finalized the schedule, which is on the Schedule tab of the NTW website, and registration has opened via this Registration Link. The registration link can also be found on the Register tab of the NTW website.
- To reserve a room, click on the following link: Hotel Reservation Link. The last day to reserve a room is February 12, 2026. Please don't wait until the last minute.
- Anyone wanting to submit a poster may do so through January 31 and that form is available on the NTW website and through the following link: Call for posters- online.
- Farmer stipend applications are now being accepted. The application is available under the Stipend tab on the NTW website and through the following link: Farmer Stipend Application
- The exhibitor form is also available on the NTW website under the Exhibitor tab. Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested.
Hope to see you all there. If you have any questions, contact us anytime. Tess McKeel - tmckeel@goodwillfingerlakes.org -585.447.9015; or JoBeth Rath - jbrath@goodwillfingerlakes.org - 585.402.2059
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NTW Encore Webinar Series, December 17: “Why Do My Hands Hurt, and What Can I Do About It?” This session will explore the anatomy of the upper extremity and the cause of common musculoskeletal and compressive problems affecting the upper extremity. In addition to exploring the anatomy, links to occupation and methods to mitigate injuries will also be discussed. More
AgrAbility Zoom discussion, today, December 16: join AgrAbility’s Ned Stoller at 3:00 p.m. EST as he takes us with him to Michigan Christmas tree farm. Contact jonesp@purdue.edu if you didn't get a link.
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Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and NY FarmNet hosted a regional meeting November 12-13 in Lake Placid, NY. Twelve attendees participated, representing Extension, NYCAMH, NY FarmNet, AgrAbility, and the Freedmen Heirs Foundation. The group exchanged valuable insights on mental health, financial wellness, veterans' issues, and assistive technology. The event fostered many new connections and productive conversations.
NAP recognizes that sustainability is a key issue for SRAPs. The Extension Foundation is sponsoring a seven-part Zoom-based workshop series: "Artificial Intelligence Fundraising and Grants Use Cases for Extension Professionals," the third Thursday of each month from January–July 2026. More
Newly archived virtual events:
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The Freeze Miser Freeze Prevention Device (unlike the manual-drip method) is engineered to only release a minimal amount of water in order to prevent faucets from freezing. The product works by sensing the temperature of the water inside the faucet then only releasing it when below 37 degrees Fahrenheit. As temperature fluctuates, the Freeze Miser reportedly automatically regulates the drip-rate, which prevents faucet freeze by releasing the least amount of water, even in the most extreme conditions.
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UAF Extension and ATLA staff participated in the 2025 Alaska Agriculture Conference (AK Farm Bureau) and Grazing Lands Symposium. During the three-day event, staff interacted with dozens of conference attendees at the AgrAbility booth, recruiting several new clients. More
The conference was followed by several days of workshops on gardening, greenhouse design, greenhouse energy options, and produce storage with many tips for workplace ergonomics.
During this same period, Ned Stoller visited Interior Alaska to provide client assessments, recommendations, and project development consultation and training. This worked well, especially since new clients from the conference were able to be assessed and supported so quickly after enrollment. More
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Esmeralda Mandujano delivered a virtual presentation at the NAMI Multicultural Symposium on behalf of the California AgrAbility Program, where she discussed agricultural worker stress and its connection to physical and mental health. She highlighted potential solutions that can provide relief or support during times of stress and emphasized that meaningful progress requires collaboration across multiple levels. More
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The Roots to Work agricultural training program for young adults with disabilities hosted two groups of participants during November. Their open house on November 7th welcomed six individuals and their families to a hands-on overview of the upcoming course beginning in January 2026. More
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On November 12th, Florida AgrAbility presented a webinar featuring Keith Gerena, veterans employment training services manager at Veterans Florida. A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran with deep agricultural roots, Keith shared his journey from growing up on a sustainable family farm in Puerto Rico to helping veterans across Florida transition into fulfilling civilian careers, many of which begin in the field. More
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On November 5th, Georgia AgrAbility held its advisory board meeting, which highlighted 20 Years of AgrAbility in Georgia! Staff are grateful to all their board members, partners, and stakeholders who made the trip to the client's farm to experience AgrAbility in action. More
Staff had the opportunity to share information about AgrAbility services during the Georgia Agriculture Wellness Alliance's Lunch and Learn Series. Staff presented to the group on Veterans Day and were able to highlight a veteran client case, and the audience was able to hear directly from a client they had served. More
Staff spent three days at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta training therapists on power-tool safety. The therapists use the power tools as part of a check-off program when working with patients during the rehabilitation process.
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Indiana AgrAbility and LifeLyfts by Life Essentials held a successful assistive technology program for OT students at Indiana State University (ISU). There were at least 38 students in attendance plus several staff members. More
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ME AgrAbility Program Coordinator Bella Russo presented on ME AgrAbility accomplishments in 2025 and how other UMaine Extension staff could help connect farmers to the program. Bella also hosted a short movement class for staff that focused on joint health and mobility during the workday.
The UMaine Extension Aggies meeting was held on November 21st in Bangor, ME. The AgrAbility coordinator presented on achievements from 2025 and discussed how Extension ag staff could broach AgrAbility with their clients.
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Michigan Senator Kevin Daley and his family presented staff from Michigan AgrAbility and Easterseals MORC with a check for the proceeds from the 2025 Thomas Daley Memorial 5K race held in June.
The Michigan Agrability project's bilingual certified occupational therapy assistant attended a farmworker labor conference on-campus at MSU and connected with other seasonal and migrant worker service providers and agencies.
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On November 11, Veteran's Day, Michigan AgrAbility collaborated with Michigan Food & Farming Systems and MSU's Forestry Innovation Center to offer a maple tubing workshop in Newberry. Nine participants came together to learn to install a small-scale gravity-fed maple sugar operation and installed half the farmer-client-veteran's taps for the 2026 maple season. More
Michigan ATP and ag engineer Ned Stoller met with several new clients at their farms to provide preliminary assessments and personalized recommendations for each operation. A pig feeder was also donated to Michigan AgrAbility from a larger commercial pig farm and given to a smaller-scale veteran farmer who needed an improved livestock feeding setup that he could with limited mobility.
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Karen Funkenbusch, the project director at Missouri AgrAbility, and Mary Ross, director of rehabilitation technology at the MO Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, hold monthly meetings to review client cases, provide updates, explore methods to streamline Missouri's onsite farmstead assessment protocols, and improve consultation systems.
Joni Harper and Karen Funkenbusch, both from MU Extension, attended the American Apitherapy Society Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course & Conference (CMACC): One Health & Honey Bees - the Health Effects of Honeybees on Humans & Animals, held in Las Vegas, NV. The conference offered an opportunity to meet apitherapy professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts while exploring the therapeutic benefits of bee products from around the world. More
Karen Funkenbusch, representing Missouri AgrAbility, received the Samuel Gompers award for her exceptional contributions "in improving the working conditions of the masses" at the 111th International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) Convention held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) team at MU Extension collaborated with Missouri AgrAbility and Heroes to Hives in Missouri to develop a marketing strategy aimed at engaging key audiences through a short video. This video features Navy veteran Kit Smith, who serves as a Missouri AgrAbility Ambassador, sharing his healing journey,... More
Extension agent Susan Jaster [Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP) at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE)] consulted with a client in Kansas City, MO, on November 4, who was seeking accessible vegetable garden projects for schools aimed at children with disabilities. The client was directed to the AgrAbility National Project Toolbox.
ISFOP Extension agents Julia Thompson and Mary Keeter displayed AgrAbility resources at a Lincoln University-sponsored event called Urban Farming 101 held in St. Louis, Missouri on November 17.
ISFOP Extension agents Penny Wilson and Mary Keeter provided AgrAbility information at a Lincoln University-sponsored mushroom workshop in Caruthersville, MO, on November 13.
Missouri AgrAbility sponsored the rural track during the BIA-MO Survivor and Family Seminar held in St. Louis. This event coincided with the BIA-MO Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, where David Middleton showcased a Missouri AgrAbility exhibit. As a result, almost 150 attendees learned about Missouri AgrAbility and picked up programmatic resources.
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The AgCeptional Women's Conference took place on November 21 at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. The conference is always an inspiring day dedicated to celebrating the strength, resilience, and leadership of women in agriculture. More
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Emily Jacobson, Nebraska AgrAbility program manager, and Angie Howell, Easterseals Nebraska, collaborated to create festive holiday gift guides for farmers and ranchers. The guides featured such items as hand warmers, gift certificates, battery caddies, telescoping bulb changers, wearable Bluetooth speakers, first aid kits, and more.
| | NM AgrAbility is looking forward to a full December with lots of presentations, opportunities to meet new people, and of course, spend time with loved ones! From everyone here in the Land of Enchantment: Happy Holidays and a blessed New Year to each of you! | | |
On November 26, University of NM occupational therapy graduate program fieldwork students Morgan Lujan and Kyndra Basham successfully completed their 12-week clinical rotation at NM AgrAbility partner Mandy's Farm. Their accomplishments include completing 100% of farm apprentices' farm site assessments,... More
At Mandy's Farm, the newest cohort of apprentices will complete the first year of their two-year training program. Apprentices will return for year two on February 10th.
| | Ohio AgrAbility is grateful for the opportunity to assist Ohio farmers. Earlier this fall, Don, one of their farmers, passed away. His family contacted Ohio AgrAbility and said they were going to ask mourners to donate to Ohio AgrAbility in lieu of flowers. More | | |
Linda Fetzer and Haze Orner provided an AgrAbility presentation to the Penn State Extension Customer Relation Managers (CRMs) on November 24th. The presentation included an overview of AgrAbility services and how they can use this information when they interact with policymakers in their regions.
Marci Walborn presented at Temple University to occupational therapy students on November 17th. The presentation detailed an overview of AgrAbility services and how those services relate to occupational therapy practices and what types of assistive technology can be utilized for farmers/agricultural workers in an OT setting.
| | As staff celebrated Veterans Day and now the wonderful holiday season, they want to express their heartfelt thanks for the incredible people they are fortunate to work with every day. To the amazing farmers, families, and partners in TN and nationwide who give so much of themselves and who work the land-thank you. Staff are truly grateful for them and the meaningful work they do. | | |
With support from Tennessee AgrAbility, Army veteran and Loudon County farmer Mark Bowen found new ways to continue farming despite service-connected physical challenges. Through adaptive tools and equipment, Mark and his family continue raising healthy, pastured poultry for their community-reflecting AgrAbility's mission to keep farmers strong, safe, and productive.
Tennessee AgrAbility joined the TN Department of Agriculture (TDA) for a webinar highlighting new statewide resources for veteran farmers. RFD-TV recently featured the brand-new Military Veteran Farmer Resources Guide, created with partners like TN AgrAbility and TN AgVOLs to support veterans exploring or expanding their role in agriculture. More
TN AgrAbility, Farmer Veteran Coalition of TN, and TDA promoted the Pick TN Products and TN Homegrown by Heroes branding that honor the men and women who have served their country - and now serve their communities as farmers and producers. More
TN AgrAbility is a member of the TN Association of Ag Agents and Specialists (TAAA&S) that functions to promote the agricultural interests of Tennessee as they relate to Extension and uphold the teachings of the State of Tennessee Land Grant Colleges. At the fall meeting, staff toured the new Appalachian Producers Cooperative (APC) facility. More
| | AgrAbility presented to the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities Statewide on November 4. | | |
Texas AgrAbility promoted its program to new AgriLife Extension agents at the November 4 Share Fair.
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AgrAbility presented in Denton, TX, for the Master Gardener program at a state conference on November 8.
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AgrAbility of Utah staff set up a vendor booth at the Utah Society of Range Management Annual Conference in Richfield, UT, on November 5th and 6th and visited with and explained AgrAbility to many of the attendees. The theme of this year's conference was Resilience on the Range: Profitable, Sustainable, Successful.
On November 12th and 13th, AgrAbility staff attended the Rural Health Association of Utah's annual conference in St. George, UT, and networked with and explained AgrAbility to many of the health care providers in Utah's rural areas. Two-thirds of Utah's land is either rural or frontier.
AgrAbility staff presented to members of the Cache Interagency Council in Logan, UT, on November 24th.
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This month, the team participated in the Virginia Rural Health Voice Conference at the scenic Wintergreen Resort in Roseland, VA. The event brought together more than 100 attendees to explore resources, opportunities, and strategies for improving health in rural communities. More
Additionally, the program coordinator has been actively involved in community-based working groups, including the Graze300 Hay Equipment Barrier Working Group (with Virginia Cooperative Extension) and the Virginia Accountable Health Engagement and Action Dashboard (VA-AHEAD with Virginia Commonwealth University), to advance collaborative solutions that address barriers and promote farmer well-being.
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AgrAbility of Wisconsin provided a four-session webinar series for staff from the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Health Services Independent Living Centers. The series, titled "A Day in the Life of a Farmer," offered insights into the daily routines and challenges faced by farmers across different sectors. More
AgrAbility of Wisconsin kicked off a new virtual Neighbor-to-Neighbor series in November, with additional sessions scheduled for December, January, and February. These relaxed gatherings are designed to foster connection and conversation among farmers, farm families, neighbors, and friends. More
| | The AgrAbility for Africa staff with the expert support of Village Health Teams (VHTs), through farm visits, are working to limit mental health impact and economic distress - especially as farmers struggle to recover after losing livestock - predominately poultry, cattle, and goats - to theft. More | | NM AgrAbility is excited to announce that Saleema Robinson has joined the NM AgrAbility Project as the new AgrAbility apprenticeship coordinator with Mandy's Farm. Saleema received her master's degree in conservation ecology with a focus on agroecology and social justice from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability in 2018. We look forward to working together, Saleema! | Michelle Bachand concluded her time with AgrAbility of Wisconsin on November 13th. As outreach program coordinator, Michelle played a key role in expanding community engagement, strengthening partnerships, and promoting assistive technology solutions for Wisconsin farmers. Her contributions to the program have been greatly appreciated, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors. | | |
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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