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May 2025
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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AgrAbility virtual all-staff meeting Wednesday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m. ET | 2:00 CT | 1:00 MT | 12:00 PT | 11:00 a.m. AKT. Look for email details prior to the meeting.
The first planning meeting for the 2026 NTW was May 14th. To be part of the committee, let Tess McKeel know tmckeel@goodwillfingerlakes.org.
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Registration is open for the regional workshop in Shipshewana, IN, on June 17-18 that will focus on working with Old Order cultures. Find more information and the link to registration on the NAP website regional events page.
AgrAbility Zoom discussion: "Veterans Community of Interest." Wednesday, May 21, 3:00 p.m. ET | 2:00 CT | 1:00 MT | 12:00 PT | 11:00 AKT. LOOK FOR AN UPDATED URL via email, or contact jonesp@purdue.edu for details.
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As a strategy to help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis in the next generation of farmers, the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance recently partnered with the National AgrAbility Project to create a safety training program, "Healthy Harvest: Arthritis Isn't Just for Aging Farmers." This comprehensive course is part of the Gearing up for Safety curriculum, which provides youth ages 14-19 with the materials needed to be certified through the Department of Labor's Hazardous Occupations in Agriculture Order (HOOA). Access this free course at https://www.asec.purdue.edu/tractor/s13.html
May is Arthritis Awareness Month! Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis experienced by farmers, ranchers, and farm workers. If you or a loved one have Hand Osteoarthritis, join Osteoarthritis Action Alliance for its upcoming lunch & learn webinar on Wednesday, May 21st at 12PM ET. Register at https://bit.ly/44fOXdT.
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As temperatures climb, it’s more important than ever to make that farm shops are properly ventilated and cooled. Review "The Accessible Farm Shop: Usable and Efficient" at www.agrability.org/resources/technical-reports-plowshares
The AgrAbility/Extension check-in calls now conflict with the NTW monthly meetings! Therefore, the Extension meetups will move to the third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m. Eastern. More
Newly archived virtual events:
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With this 30-inch-wide Wheeled Baby-Leaf Greens Harvester, one person can reportedly harvest as much as 350 pounds of leafy greens per hour. Powering its cutting blades, winnower, and conveyor is a cordless drill with a pull-cord used to depress the trigger as the harvester is being wheeled. Also, its rear-mounted collection bag opens from the side for easier removal of the harvested greens. Adjustable are the cutting height, the conveyor belt angle, and the winnower speed to accommodate a variety of crops and crop sizes.
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AgrAbility in the Last Frontier's assistive technology partner, ATLA, participated in and distributed outreach cards and flyers at the three-day Alaska Homestead Expo.
Art Nash also distributed materials at an annual event - A Women's Affair.
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Florida AgrAbility met with the Florida Farm Bureau to initiate a collaborative partnership aimed at better serving Florida's farmers with disabilities. The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general agricultural organization, representing more than 133,000 member families across Florida. More
The Roots to Work program, which offered an introduction to the agricultural field to young adults with disabilities, concluded its eight-week program. Participants developed skills with plant care, experienced personal growth, and increased their options for future volunteer and work opportunities. More
| | On April 10th, staff presented at the Advancing Employment Community of Practice about AgrAbility and the opportunities for employment in agriculture for people with disabilities. There was a great discussion between attendees from multiple disability service organizations after the presentation. | | |
AgrAbility Staff visited Macon County Elementary School and presented to 480 students and 40 teachers, administrators, and parents about AgrAbility and farm safety.
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It was a beautiful spring day on April 11 at the campus of Huntington University, where Indiana AgrAbility, in collaboration with Easterseals Crossroads and Huntington University, hosted a hands-on event focused on using assistive technology in agriculture. The day brought together students from Huntington University's occupational therapy programs, local farmers, Extension staff, occupational therapists, and others for an immersive learning experience. More
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Chuck Baldwin, Indiana AgrAbility, Marty Cotterman from LifeLyfts by Life Essentials, and Sgt. Matthew Harvey, farmer veteran and AgrAbility client, conducted a three-hour "AT in Agriculture" training for 40 occupational therapy (OT) students and a few staff at Indiana State University (ISU) in Terre Haute on April 18. More
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The OT training program at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) invited Indiana AgrAbility and LifeLyfts for the second year in a row to train its senior OT students at its Elkhart, IN, facility on April 30. Chuck Baldwin and Marty Cotterman did a three-hour training in much the same fashion as the training at ISU in Terre Haute 12 days earlier. More
On April 24, Paul Jones gave his semiannual lecture on disability and agriculture to Purdue's AGR 201 class Communicating Across Culture.
| | Maine AgrAbility crafted a letter to its partners clarifying the current status of the program. More | | |
April was a busy month as spring finally arrived in Michigan.
A capstone OTD student completed her 14-week experience with the Michigan AgrAbility team and wrote strong recommendations for a young woman dairy farmer with a TBI. The MSU mechanical engineering capstone students also presented their updated work on the rolling kneeler cart, which improved several aspects of the design. (More information and an updated design plan to come.)
The Michigan AgrAbility team also visited a client's swine feeder operation to see modifications that staff had helped implement and to learn more about occupational health in a swine barn setting.
Staff presented and provided an assistive technology demo of basic AT tools for a community college horticultural class, shared more about Extension and AgrAbility during a local middle school career day, and presented at the Michigan Center for Rural Health conference in Mt. Pleasant. More than 50 people involved in healthcare, administration, and med school joined the latter session.
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Finally, Michigan AgrAbility received another generous donation from the Tau chapter of AGR and the proceeds from its annual beef preview.
| | During this reporting period, the MU Extension MO AgrAbility Program facilitated three onsite farm assessments for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Vocational Rehabilitation, along with one for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, achieving complete 100% client satisfaction. | |
To address the mental well-being challenges in rural Missouri, MU Extension has gathered a variety of resources for individuals, agricultural supporters, professionals, allies, and families. Among these mental well-being resources is free telehealth counseling provided by a licensed counselor familiar with the agricultural sector. More
Local teens in Oregon County initiated a 4-H Mental Health Awareness Campaign with guidance and support from Emily Doosing. Seven youth leaders created educational materials, organized peer outreach sessions, and arranged three school presentations for May. More
Summary of Outcomes for April 2025: More
Staff from Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP) handed out Missouri AgrAbility information and discussed program services to participants at the gardening fair held on April 12 in Caruthersville, MO, where 22 people attended.
Showcasing events by the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) included a presentation at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Home and Community-Based Services Conference on April 3, attended by 200 case managers, service coordinators, intake specialists, and other professionals. More
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Emily Jacobson and John Davis engaged with Nebraska FFA youth at the state FFA convention. Hands-on activities included "Spin the Wheel" to learn about disaster preparedness and simulating visual impairments while completing basic tasks. More
Emily's been on the move this month-covering all corners of Nebraska for AgrAbility client visits! From small towns to rural farms, she's meeting with clients, learning their stories, and helping find solutions that support their independence and success in agriculture.
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There are so many highlights from AgrAbility NTW, and staff can only feature a few of their experiences. The Nebraska AgrAbility team took in many of the presentations and learned about new resources and techniques to help in their work with clients and partners. More
Nebraska AgrAbility advocates for Nebraska agriculture as part of its work with AgrAbility. During National Ag Week, the Nebraska AgrAbility Facebook and Instagram accounts focused on sharing interesting facts about this #1 industry in Nebraska. Facebook | Instagram.
Emily Jacobson presented at the Nebraska Sorghum Symposium. This event was well-attended, and attendees asked terrific questions about AgrAbility.
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New Mexico AgrAbility team members, including the farm-site evaluator, program manager, and fieldwork educator, were scheduled to take a tour of a four-corners area farm and ranch that is run by a Navajo tribal member in early May.
NMAP team members have been taking suggestions from their advisory board and lessons learned from the National Training Workshop to devise appropriate trainings for Extension and DVR that the team hopes to unroll over the summer.
Planning continues for the "Day on the Farm" event for DVR in Fall 2025.
Farm apprentices at non-profit site Mandy's Farm continue to plant and sow seeds for the future in very dry weather. Precipitation is forecast for the parched state, and staff are all hoping for a little rain to fall.
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Ohio AgrAbility staff co-presented three sessions at the Multiple Perspectives Conference, hosted by the OSU ADA Coordinator's Office. 2025 was the first year for the Cultivating Access to Agriculture track, and it was well-received and well-attended. More
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Ohio AgrAbility is proud to have been chosen for Ohio State Impacts, an awareness campaign that highlights ways OSU programs benefit and impact Ohioans. OAP farmer Len Vonderhaar was featured, and he shared how AgrAbility has helped him continue working on the family farm despite three surgeries and chronic joint pain.
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Dr. Dee Jepsen's 2025 capstone team won the Agriculture Systems Management Outstanding Communicator Award for "AgrAbility: Ag For All," their modified skid-steer project at the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department's annual design competition. Their work on the skid steer was a continuation of Dee's capstone 2024 and 2018 teams' work on modifying the skid-steer to improve accessibility.
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AgrAbility staff member Abbie Kibe attended the PA Farm Link board meeting in Leola, PA. During the meeting Abbie shared information about the services AgrAbility offers, how this pairs with PA Farm Link's mission to assist farmers with all stances of succession planning, and how AgrAbility can work with PA Farm Link and all the agricultural organizations represented on the board. More
AgrAbility staff members Abbie Kibe and Haze Orner attended the PA Veteran Farmer Network Beginning Farmer Workshop on April 25th in Centre Hall, PA. The event included presenters from the local conservation district and Natural Resources Conservation Service. More
AgrAbility staff member Linda Fetzer presented at an Amish safety and health day on April 5th in Lancaster County. There were approximately 175 participants.
| | This month, the SC AgrAbility team hosted its annual Agriculture Awareness Day with the ClemsonLIFE Program. "The ClemsonLIFE program at Clemson University offers a collegiate experience that prepares young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living through academic coursework and career exploration." More | | |
TN AgrAbility farmer Jason Barber's inspiring journey managing his family's century-old cattle farm with retinitis pigmentosa, "Walk by Faith, Not by Sight" documentary, premiered April 16. Watch, share, and subscribe to witness resilience in action! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cavOG6AGpwU
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Assistive technology (AT) made farming tasks easier and safer for a Giles County feeder calf producer with mobility issues. With the assistance of TN AgrAbility, STAR Center, UT TSU Extension Giles County, and TN Vocational Rehabilitation Services, he now has the following AT equipment: More
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For his University of Tennessee @ Martin ag engineering project, senior Colby Lancaster designed a PTO shaft support to mount on the drawbar of hay mower, baler, tedder, etc. The mount provides a way to support the PTO shaft, relieving the need to manually lift and hold it during the connection process.
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TN State University Extension's acclaimed program, hailed by TN Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher as "the best beginning farmer series in the country," kicked off the seven once-a-month, hands-on classes across Tennessee in April. TSU TN AgrAbility Project Director Finis Stribling in his 11th year, has led efforts to educate hundreds of new beginning farmers. More
The STAR Center, TN AgrAbility nonprofit disability partner, honored World Autism Awareness Day by championing the theme "Different, not less," emphasizing inclusion and empowerment for individuals with autism. TN AgrAbility celebrates Sydney Maitland, a TN AgrAbility farmer, who participated in the NTW and shared his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scz85YbR7AY. More
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Thank you to ATAP (Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs) and the AT3 Center (Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training Center) for promoting National Assistive Technology Awareness Day! This day is established each year to bring awareness to the life-changing benefits of assistive technology. More
Thank you to Charley Jordan, AgVOLS mentorship coordinator and TN AgrAbility farmer (Jordan Farms TN), for advocating for agricultural opportunities for veterans during the Vets in Ag Podcast episode #71. "One of the biggest things I've learned in both the military and agriculture is that success isn't just about what you know-it's about who you surround yourself with. More
TN AgrAbility highlighted adaptive tech on the VetFarm Network Podcast: "Making Farming Work after Injury - AgrAbility for Veterans."
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TN AgrAbility, Sigma Alpha Sorority @ University of Tennessee @ Martin (UTM), and Gibson County Farm Bureau Women's Leadership organized the Grow What You Know Women in Ag Conference. Thirty-five women in ag spent the day at UTM learning about beef reproduction, farm finances, soil health, women in leadership, sex in the garden, and assistive technology tools/equipment. More
TN Farm Bureau Women Come Together: TN AgrAbility exhibited at the 77th Annual TN Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Conference in Lebanon with over 300 women. "Raising Barns, Building Communities" was the theme. Grateful for the work these ladies do in advocating, communicating, and educating for our most important industry.
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Battleground to Breaking Ground conducted a beef cattle course in College Station on April 14th -15th. Topics included beef cattle breeds, herd health management, reproduction, determining stocking rate and carrying capacity, and low-stress handling strategies.
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AgrAbility of Utah staff met with staff from the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation on April 17th to address any barriers and learn more about each other's organization.
On April 22nd, AgrAbility of Utah staff was excited to set up a vendor booth and meet with many of the 1,300 FFA students who attended the Next Step Expo in Logan, Utah. FFA students from across the state attended the expo and participated in state contests during the week.
The AgrAbility of Utah staff presented to members of the Cache Interagency Council in Logan, UT on April 28th.
| | AgrAbility Virginia is currently managing numerous active cases involving farmers with varying levels of engagement and need, including one farmer seeking a zero-turn mower equipped with left-side hand and pedal controls. | | |
Program Coordinator Roberto Franco presented to 20 undergraduate students in the Identity and Inclusion in Agriculture and Life Sciences class at Virginia Tech, covering topics such as AgrAbility, farm safety, health, and wellness. The session raised awareness about AgrAbility's mission and encouraged students to consider the unique needs and resources necessary to support individuals with disabilities in agricultural settings.
Roberto and field staff member Jeremy Daubert shared the goals, scope, and impact of the AgrAbility Virginia program with legislators at the Rockingham Extension Breakfast with Legislators, attended by 16 participants.
Additionally, the team attended the Virginia Beef Expo at the Rockingham Fairgrounds, engaging with Virginia State University representatives and vendors and showcasing innovative, user-friendly cattle working technologies suitable for farmers with mobility challenges.
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AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff members exhibited at the WPS Farm Show April 1st-3rd. The WPS Farm Show is an annual event that attracts approximately 20,000 attendees. This event offers farmers a platform to explore the latest innovations and solutions in the industry. More
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AgrAbility of Wisconsin hosted its annual AgrAbility Summit on April 15th. The summit provided an excellent opportunity for participants to network and learn about resources available through AgrAbility and other Wisconsin programs. More
| | AgrAbility staff member Abbie (Spackman) Kibe started training new staff member Haze Orner on providing client services. Together they provided a farm assessment for a farmer with an upper extremity amputation and collaborated on making recommendations. Haze is off to a great start and brings lots of great new ideas to AgrAbility's client services. Abbie will be departing the AgrAbility PA team at the end of April 2025 after 10 years of service and will be shifting her professional focus to her own farm! Please join the AgrAbility PA team in bidding her a fond farewell on this next step of her journey. | |
Texas AgrAbility staff thanks and bids farewell to Sarah Pierce, our occupational therapy student from Texas Woman's University in Dallas, Texas. She finished her four-month internship with Texas AgrAbility and will be graduating in May after completing her doctoral capstone project in occupational therapy with Texas AgrAbility. She helped with research and created educational fact sheets for farmers and ranchers with disabilities. We are grateful for her contributions to Texas AgrAbility this past semester, and we wish her the best in her career.
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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.
- During the Ripley County, Missouri, 4-H Roping and Hippology Clinic, Emily Doosing, a Missouri Extension 4-H specialist, led a session focused on horse safety and prevention of secondary injuries. Twenty-three young youth participants engaged in safe haltering and tying practices, gained insights into equine behavior, and learned about personal protective measures for handling livestock. More
- In Oregon County, Missouri, Emily Doosing, organized a 4-H safety day that engaged 47 young participants. The program covered essential topics such as ATV safety, hydration, sun protection, basic first aid, and emergency response planning. More
- Emily Jacobson teamed up with Nance and Boone County Extension educators for Youth Safety Days, where she spoke with nearly 250 third graders about ATV and UTV safety. More
- UT Extension specialists Shelli Rampold (TN AgrAbility director and UT Extension assistant professor, issues and crisis communication) and Katie Whitehouse (UTIA digital communications specialist), compiled critical resources for West/Middle TN communities impacted by inclement weather during April. Access disaster aid, safety guidelines, and emotional support HERE.
- Negotiations have been ongoing to improve safety and save lives on Lake Victoria. Starting in June 2025, AgrAbility for Africa staff, along with more than 30 coastal and island fishing and farming community trainers, will benefit from a collaborative effort to prevent the thousands of drowning fatalities that occur on the lake each year. More
- Protecting Human Health in Pork Production
- Attacking Bird Flu With Lasers
- New Tool for Nutrient Management Planners Available
- New Data Confirm Catastrophic Honey Bee Colony Losses, Underscoring Urgent Need for Action
- The Great Waddle: History of Duck Farming
- Understanding stressors female farmers face
- Feeding dairy cows whole cottonseed byproduct boosts milk fat, researchers find
- Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research
- FAO launches a $150 million Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine to support war-affected rural communities
- Sensing Sickness: Study Supports a New Way to Boost Bee Health
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