February 2022
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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2022 NTW: Things to do...
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AgrAbility's hotel room block at both hotels has closed. If you did not get a room in time, please contact Tess McKeel at tmckeel@goodwillfingerlakes.org or 585-447-9015. She has a few extra rooms reserved and can transfer them on a first come, first served basis.
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Register. You can get to registration through the NTW website HERE.
- While you are on the NTW website don't forget to check out the great tours that are planned (additional fee).
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Register as an AgrAbility exhibitor. This is an option on the registration site. You can contact Tess McKeel if you have already registered online but would like to have an AgrAbility display.
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Suggest exhibitors or sponsors. You can find information for both by clicking on either option- exhibitor or sponsor.
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Put together your state raffle basket. The state raffle baskets have been a hit the last two years. Put together a basket with items from your state or any theme that you would like and let's see whose basket gets the most tickets.
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Solicit auction items. We need auction items to help support the cost of our farmer guests. You can mail your items ahead of time, if needed, to Amanda Harguth, 460 Henry Mall, Room B20, Madison, WI 53706. Please indicate that it is for the NTW and include the attached item description form.
- Start thinking about the snack you would like to bring to share in the Hospitality Suite!
Join us for an AgrAbility all-staff virtual meeting on March 2 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Scheduled are updates from NIFA and the AgrAbility fact sheet working group along with a presentation on transition programing for active-duty service members interested in agriculture. Looks for details coming soon.
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AgrAbility/North Central FRSAN webinar: "Tensions of Farm Succession," Tuesday, February 22, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET. For many farms, transferring the farm to a next generation is the ultimate legacy goal, especially when transferring within the family. But it’s not all rainbows and roses. More
AgrAbility Monthly Zoom, Wednesday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Kimber Nicoletti-Martínez leads a discussion on farmworkers. Contact knicolet@purdue.edu for details.
Many thanks to AgrAbility in Georgia for staffing a booth in cooperation with NAP at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Atlanta. See more in their entry below.
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A Personal Air Quality Monitor is a handheld or wearable battery-powered unit that tracks, measures, records, and transmits surrounding atmospheric condition data to one's electronic device (e.g., smartphone, computer). It warns workers with respiratory impairments if they are entering a dangerous environment for their lungs. The user can then, in real time, read the results (even be audio-alerted) and take protective action, if warranted.
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January into February has had Alaskans facing exceptional weather events throughout the state, from freezing & thawing to extreme wind events being referred to as "winter hurricanes." More
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While waiting for spring, the Alaska AgrAbility (AKAgrAbility) team has been active in doing some outreach and educational events and planning for the coming season. As mentioned previously, the AKAgrAbility program has partnered with the Kenai Peninsula Soil & Water Conservation District (KP-SWCD) Office to offer a seven-part series titled " From the Ground Up,"... More
DeShana participated in two convenings around food systems and food security in Alaska. More
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Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA) hosted the Older Person Action Group, a monthly group meeting held by Senior Voice (a local newspaper) with attendees from organizations and companies that support and serve older Alaskans across Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. A brief overview of the AKAgrAbility program was presented at this meeting.
Planning with the Alaska Botanical Garden team is underway to develop an area for accessible gardening and assistive technology demonstrations for the general public and for educational training events in the future.
The next issue of the AKAgrAbility quarterly newsletter is to be distributed in February.
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California AgrAbility hosted the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program (WRASAP) quarterly networking meeting. Colorado AgrAbility Project's Dr. Bob Fetsch and Chad Reznicek presented on "Advances and Barriers in Increasing Behavioral Health Support for Colorado Farming and Ranching Families." More
California AgrAbility staff attended the AgrAbility Marketing and Media Community of Interest meeting. More
Staff attended the first monthly Puentes Network collaborative meeting of 2022. More
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Using small grant funds from the WRASAP stress assistance program, the Colorado AgrAbility Project was able to design a new web presence with improved content and function. Please check it out at agrability.colostate.edu and drop the staff a note with any suggestions for improvement or errors that are found. Staff look forward to hearing from readers as they continue to launch new content. |
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Georgia AgrAbility was honored to represent the National AgrAbility Project at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, from January 7th through 12th. Sonny Perdue, who served as the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021, was a special visitor to the booth. More
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Georgia AgrAbility was an exhibitor at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia, on January 6th through the 9th. The conference is the South's premier fruit and vegetable show. More
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The Fort Wayne Farm Show returned to an in-person event on January 18-20 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. More
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Ed Sheldon, Indiana and NAP Extension outreach coordinator, visited with the Morgan County (Martinsville, IN) 4-H Junior Leaders during their annual club lock-in January 16. After several members heard about AgrAbility from a teacher, they were interested in learning more about the program and contacted Indiana AgrAbility to extend an invitation to visit their club meeting. More
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Project Coordinator Tawnie Larson joined members of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas and SAVE Farm (Servicemember Agricultural Vocation Education) for an FVC grant seminar at the Kubota distribution center in Edgerton, Kansas. More
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One of Maine AgrAbility's advisory council members, Donald Burr, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine's safety and training coordinator, recently created this YouTube video for the Maine LogAbility program. More
The 2022 Maine Agricultural Trades Show was virtual again this year due to the pandemic. It was disappointing to not re-connect with Maine farmers, but the content was shared virtually via live and recorded events.
Starting in February, Maine FishAbility will be providing fishermen virtual access to stretching poses to help them stay productive and avoid injury. More
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Missouri AgrAbility focused its social media efforts on program promotion for MU Extension & partner programs. Additionally, it launched a new social media campaign featuring the Missouri AgrAbility team members and highlighting what they enjoy about their work with AgrAbility. More
This month, MU Extension also continued to use USDA NIFA funds to efficiently provide customers and their families, including veteran farmers and their families, with direct on-the-farm assistance in a timely manner. More
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The Missouri AgrAbility Project (MAP) is currently working to offer its third behavioral education-based workshop to agricultural professionals in a series focusing on mental health and farmers with disabilities. More
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Forty-three veterans with brain injury recently completed the Heroes to Hives (H2H) online course offered by Michigan State University and the Missouri State H2H Chapter's face-to-face and hands-on program. H2H is a unique program offered through Michigan State University and the Missouri AgrAbility Project. More
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Nebraska AgrAbility is planning a Rehabilitating Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers course for occupational and physical therapists and assistants to help them better understand the needs of farmers and ranchers going through physical or occupational therapy. More
A staff member is attending social media workshops that are being put on by Grow Nebraska, an organization for Nebraska entrepreneurs. More
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New Mexico AgrAbility (NMAP) staffed a booth at the Joint Stockmen's Convention to promote the project and interact with NM cattle growers and other producers. |
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Ohio AgrAbility (OAP) staff presented at the Ohio Land Improvement Contractors Association (OLICA) annual conference in early January. This was the first opportunity to present to this group in several years, and they were an attentive audience. In addition to an overview of Ohio AgrAbility, OLICA attendees were also introduced to OAP's "Fitness for Farm Life" resources... More
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Staff from AgrAbility PA and Penn State Ag Safety and Health teamed up to host an interactive display at the 2022 Keystone Farm Show in York, PA, during the first week of January. More
AgrAbility PA staff members continued life on the education, networking, and outreach circuit by presenting to the Tri-County Employment Coalition, participating in the FRSAN NE Extension Cohort meeting (which focuses on farm stress and mental health in the Northeast), and attending the PA Farm Link board to share about the work AgrAbility does to support farmers. More
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READ ALL ABOUT IT! AgrAbility PA continues to make headlines-this time in Lancaster Farming - sharing farmer success stories and how farmers can benefit from AgrAbility services and support. |
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The Tatanka Ki Owetu, Renewal AgrAbility Project on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is busy working directly on client sites this month, taking advantage of the low snow amounts.
Staff are also working with Little Wound School on a unique AgrAbility farm-to-school program for youth ages 17-19 still enrolled in high school. The youth in Little Wound School's Extension program all qualify for AgrAbility and are learning about AgrAbility, farm-to-school, agricultural production, the local foods market on Pine Ridge, and how assistive technology can help them meet their small tribal farm goals.
This month, staff are also co-hosting a booth with South Dakota State University and SDSU Extension colleagues at the Black Hills Stock Show.
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TN AgrAbility presented for a new online learning opportunity: Master Farm Family and Health Wellness Program (MFFHW) is an educational outreach program coordinated by UT Extension Family & Consumer Sciences to provide farm families with the tools to cope and thrive with the unique challenges facing farm families. More
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One unique way that TN AgrAbility assists beginning farmers with disabilities is by encouraging them to attend the TN New Farmer Academy with TNAP's partner, TN State University Extension. More
TNAP also encourages farmers nationwide to attend a financial class that is another new online educational program University of Tennessee Extension uniquely designed to help beginning farmers or individuals starting a new venture in agriculture. More
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January was a travel month for TN AgrAbility. Their displays were seen at: East TN Grain Conference; Middle TN Grain Conference; West TN Grain Conference; and TN Cattleman's Association Convention. From attending these conferences, TNAP has several new referrals. |
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January ended with the first TN Grain Bin Safety/Rescue Awareness Training for 2022. The event was coordinated by TN AgrAbility and UT TSU Extension (Chester, Decatur, Hardin & Henderson Counties) with instruction by Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS). More
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Texas AgrAbility hosted its quarterly advisory committee meeting where resources were shared to enhance programs and services for Texas AgrAbility clients.
An advisory committee satisfaction survey was sent out with members providing feedback on the effectiveness of the committee, suggestions for new members, and testimonies of the impact serving has had on their work as ag producers and service providers.
Texas AgrAbility's occupational therapy intern Maggie Mencer will be conducting research on the effectiveness of the Texas AgrAbility online course for occupational therapists this semester. As part of her capstone project, she will conduct focus groups to evaluate the course and recommend enhancements for the future.
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In January, AgrAbility of Utah staff attended and presented at three Crop School classes taught throughout the state. More
On January 18 and 26, AgrAbility of Utah staff met with staff members of the COVER to COVER program to discuss ways to better serve the veteran community in Utah. More
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AgrAbility Virginia is currently working with 28 farmer clients at various levels of engagement and need, including a returning client with cerebral palsy who is seeking additional assistive technology supports for his cattle operation.
AgrAbility Virginia will be sending a group to the National Training Workshop in Madison, WI.
AgrAbility Virginia Field Coordinator Jeremy Daubert continues to staff an exhibit table at the Virginia Forage and Grasslands Council winter meetings across the state.
Program Director Dr. Kim Niewolny presented at the Virginia Agriculture Education conference February 5th in Fishersville, Virginia. Jeremy Daubert will also attend and manage an information booth for the SRAP. The target audience is all Virginia secondary and vocational school ag educators.
Dr. Kim Niewolny and Jeremy Daubert presented at the Virginia Cooperative Extension virtual conference between January 31 and February 1 on AgrAbility Virginia programming. The target audience was all Extension agents across the state.
Jeremy Daubert also staffed a display the 2022 VANTAGE Virginia No-Till Alliance conference in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on February 9th.
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The Washington State AgrAbility Project (WSAP) and Curt Johnson (WATAP) presented a 75-minute virtual workshop titled "Aching Hands and Stomped on Feet" as part of the Country Living Expo.
The WSAP coordinator participated in a booth with PNW Ag Network and passed out AgrAbility materials at the Washington/Oregon Potato Conference in Kennewick, Washington, Jan 26th-27th.
The WSAP team developed and published a "Pathway to Services" document - a tool for navigating services in Washington state. The document is available on the WSAP website and will serve as a resource for clients searching for resources.
WSAP participated in a farm-to-table event in Spokane to network within Spokane, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties.
The WSAP coordinator hosted a booth with the help of Curt Johnson (WATAP) at the Spokane Ag Show February 1-3. WSAP presented a 75-minute workshop entitled "Aching Hands and Stomped on Feet" in person February 2nd.
WSAP wrapped up a three-month digital native ad campaign with Cherry Creek Media and reaped the benefits of increased traffic to its website and social media reaches.
WSAP delivered an introduction to AgrAbility to a Farm Bureau RETRO virtual meeting February 14.
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The middle of January, AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff attended the Wisconsin Agri Business Classic and also attended the Wisconsin Corn and Soy Expo in early February. Staff also plan to have a booth at the MOSES Organic Conference toward the end of February. While out at these events, staff love chatting with current and potential clients and sharing what their program can help them with on their farms.
Staff are looking forward to warmer weather and being the state to host the 2022 National Training Workshop. We are excited to see you in Madison!
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Wednesday, January 26, AgrAbility for Africa staff attended a webinar by Free Wheelchair Mission on mobility for the disabled in Uganda. More
As the country slowly opens up past the worst phases of Covid-19, the AgrAbility staff are also returning to the fields to assess farmer needs and challenges and to provide the appropriate support. It is during such visits that they met Nabawanuka who has mobility challenges. More
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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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