November 2023
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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The National AgrAbility Advisory Team provides feedback on NAP activities and recommendations for future efforts, and it includes a SRAP representative and a client representative that change annually. This year's SRAP representative is Kyle Haney of AgrAbility in Georgia, and the client representative is Darin Chapman, a farmer veteran from Indiana. The advisory team is scheduled to meet in Indianapolis on November 29-30. |
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Next 2023 AgrAbility NTW Encore Webinar: December 13 - “Adaptive Beekeeping for People with Disabilities and Veterans” with Ned Stoller and Joe Ricker. More
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NTW Reminders
- Book your room for the March 25-28 NTW at the per diem rate of $173+taxes/fees by clicking Grand Hyatt Atlanta/Buckhead.
- The request for proposals is closed, but poster submissions are accepted through January through the form on the NTW website.
- The schedule will be posted on the website, and registration will be open in the beginning of December.
- Each SRAP should provide a travel stipend for a farmer before sending any requests for NAP stipends from that state. Start reaching out to local organizations to see if they can help stipend a farmer to come. Farmer stipend applications will be available soon.
- Exhibitor applications are also available on the NTW website, or have the prospective exhibitors contact Tess McKeel.
- If you would like to join the planning committee, send an email to Tess at tmckeel@goodwillfingerlakes.org.
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The regional workshop "Malama the Farmer, Caring for Yourself and Each Other" took place in in Hawai'i on October 17-18. Sixty-seven people from 8 states and Guam attended the workshop sessions, and 55 attended the tours of a coffee plantation/production, a winery that also grows olives and tea, a 3rd generation floral greenhouse, and a farm that supports veterans. There was lots of positive feedback, great conversations, and great connections made.
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Many thanks to all who participated in the 2023 AgrAbility Virtual State Fair on Facebook and Twitter. The fair reached more than 16,000 unique Facebook users during October.
Kimber Nicoletti-Martínez represented AgrAbility at the 2023 annual conference of APRIL - the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living. The event took place in Orange County, CA, on October 12-14, and in addition to staffing a display, Kimber spoke on "The art of engagement in Latina farm worker communities."
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Chuck Baldwin helped staff the AgrAbility booth at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI, October 3-4. He shared the responsibilities with Ami Bliefernicht of Easterseals Wisconsin on Tuesday and with Alan Kaltenberg, WI farmer, and Julianne Renner, AgrAbility of Wisconsin communications, on Wednesday. More
National AgrAbility collaborated with Colorado AgrAbility to provide a display and presentation at the 2023 conference of FALCON (First Americans Land grant Consortium) in Denver on October 13-15. See the Colorado AgrAbility section of this newsletter for more.
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Ed Sheldon and Chuck Baldwin joined their 2501 LIFE Project partner John Jamerson in attending the National Black Farmers Association conference in Natchez, MS, located on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, October 27-28. There were roughly 200 in attendance. More
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National AgrAbility hosted an exhibit at the 2023 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on November 1-3. The team talked with many of the estimated 72,000+ attendees and shared the space with Purdue's Gearing Up for Safety youth agricultural safety training program.
Newly archived virtual events:
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A Throatless Hand Shear is used to make complex straight and curved cuts in sheet metal. It consists of a heavy-duty cast-iron base (to ensure stability), a long handle (that provides added leverage), and side-by-side steel blades (that do the cutting). The tool's "throatless" design lets the material pass through without getting stuck and also makes it easy to cut large, unwieldy sheets. Additionally, the blades adjust for different material thicknesses - the maximums usually being 14-gauge mild steel and aluminum and 18-gauge stainless. |
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Staff participated in many events this October including the Aging & Disability Summit, a physical therapy conference, Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, and the Alaska Federation for the Blind Convention.
Along with Empowering Education's Annette Alfonsi, AKAgrAbility staff accepted a resolution to make October "Disability Employment Awareness Month" at the October 10th Anchorage Assembly meeting. More
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It's been an eventful month for California AgrAbility. Staff members had the pleasure of participating in the 2nd Annual Yolo Farmworkers & Growers Festival in Woodland, California. More
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Dr. Rebecca Hill, Colorado AgrAbility co-director, and James Craig, Colorado AgrAbility veteran outreach & rural rehabilitation specialist, represented the National AgrAbility Project at The First Americans Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON) annual conference October 13th - 15th. More
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Candiss Leathers, program manager, spoke eloquently and engagingly on "Ergonomic Safety & Health in Agriculture... A Few Issues and Solutions" to 50-plus participants from 8 states and Guam at the National AgrAbility Project's regional training workshop in Hilo, Hawaii, on October 17th. More
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Ellis Vidmar, program coordinator, spoke to Washington County Farm Bureau about the services Colorado AgrAbility offers. There were seven Farm Bureau members, three community members, and eight Facebook Live participants in the audience. More
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Mountain Regional Behavioral Health Specialist Kirsten Wulfsberg and Mountain Region Health Specialist Jen Aengst shared: "Tips & Tricks for Navigating the Healthcare System." The pilot program kicked off in Teller County, on October 21st in partnership with the Teller County Health Department and the Teller County Sherriff's office. More
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Concluding its first year of operation, Florida AgrAbility held its first advisory board meeting. The team provided illustrative handouts and presented a presentation to advisory board members to inform them of the progress and efforts conducted by the Florida AgrAbility staff during the past year. This in-person meeting provided a great opportunity to strengthen professional relationships and welcome helpful feedback.
The case coordinator began a course in preparation for becoming a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). This class is four weeks long, twice a week, and will assist with preparing for the ATP exam.
The case coordinator attended the 2023 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia, and shared booth space with Georgia AgrAbility and South Carolina AgrAbility. This is a very highly trafficked event (over 100,000 visitors annually) for farmers and ranchers across the Southern U.S.
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The Sunbelt Ag Expo was held in Moultrie, GA, on October 17-19. Staff were so thankful to have Florida and South Carolina AgrAbility join us this year to showcase AgrAbility for farmers across the Southeast! More
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AgrAbility is part of the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance (GAWA). GAWA was established in response to the prevalence of mental health challenges experienced by farm families and communities. More
Georgia AgrAbility participated in the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair on October 4th. Staff are grateful to have been part of the VSF to share the wonderful work that AgrAbility does.
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Illinois AgrAbility's three-month statewide marketing campaign will run from November through January and involves both Illinois Farmer Today and Illinois Farm Bureau. It includes radio, newspaper, website, and social media.
Staff member Haley has begun taking a seven-week facilitator course in chronic disease self-management. The intent will be to offer this interactive class for Illinois AgrAbility audiences around the state beginning this early spring.
Illinois AgrAbility has published its first quarterly newsletter of this grant cycle. Click here to read it. |
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On October 13, the Purdue University College of Agriculture sponsored a Global Food & Nutrition Security and Human Health Poster Networking Gathering. Indiana AgrAbility Extension Engagement Coordinator Ed Sheldon joined 34 other participants from throughout the College of Agriculture, sharing a poster highlighting the Legacy Innovation Farming Economics (LIFE) Project. More
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Staff went to a mechanized logging operations student learning site to provide an education on ergonomics and logging. Ten students and two staff participated in the education. More
Maine AgrAbility was featured in the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair on October 23.
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Michigan AgrAbility staff attended Michigan Farm Bureau's first career fair for FFA members. Staff spoke to members about a career in engineering, assistive technology, and communications. More
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October was the beginning of the new 4-H program year, so efforts have been on recruitment and training of members, volunteers, and teen leaders. Red Ribbon Week activities were a success with 4-H Save Your Brain Ambassadors doing demonstrations during the week's activities.
Karen Funkenbusch from MU Extension and Mary Bolling at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (LUCE ISFOP) provided a half-day AgrAbility training workshop October 17 at the George Washington Carver Farm Lincoln University to new small farm specialists and farm outreach workers. More
Missouri AgrAbility focused social media efforts around the promotion of National Farm Safety and Health Week and prevention of suicide. Educational materials, dissemination of information, and program presentations also geared toward meeting the diverse needs of Missouri farmers through inclusion, equity, and equality.
Missouri AgrAbility was recognized as the Rural Missouri Track Sponsor for the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (BIA-MO) 19th Annual Statewide Conference. Marketing activities included an exhibit that featured tools of the Missouri AgrAbility Jessup Wagon in partnership with Lincoln University, and Mary Bolling discussing specifics about the tools with more than 250 attendees of the conference. More
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Nebraska AgrAbility staff attended the "One USDA: Beginning Farmer and Rancher" webinar training. Training topics included: "Beginning Farmer and Rancher program, Employment programs for Veterans," "NRCS, Extension Services,"... More
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Nebraska AgrAbility staff member Angie Howell attended the regional AgrAbility training in Hilo, Hawaii. The two-day learning event offered valuable agricultural experience and shared expertise from a variety of AgrAbility projects about farm stress, mentoring, and business planning and provided assistive technology examples. More
For the month of October, Nebraska AgrAbility participated in National AgrAbility's Virtual State Fair. The Nebraska program was showcased on October 13. More
Nebraska AgrAbility is excited to be working with Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) on their veterans in agriculture project, "Embracing Farm and Ranch Diversification, Adding Agritourism through Farm Stores, UPick operations, and Outdoor events." Over the next few months, Nebraska AgrAbility will be meeting with CFRA and planning educational courses.
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NM Technology Assistance Program partners promoted AgrAbility at a Rio Rancho Public Schools Transition Fair on October 26. |
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NMAP's non-profit partner, Mandy's Farm, held a Harvest Fest where apprentices ran a booth selling purple sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, rainbow popping corn, and daikon radishes that they grew, as well as apple butter and peach preserves that they prepared. More
AgrAbility was asked to present two times at an upcoming conference on aging on November 13. The presentation was offered to New Mexico seniors live in Albuquerque, and was viewable live and via recordings at senior centers throughout the state.
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The 2023 Extension Early Career Conference, "Meet your Specialists," was held October 3. It was an event hosting county-based NC Cooperative Extension staff (agents and PAs). More
On October 5, NC AgrAbility hosted the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair, sharing the work the program does and a video featuring farmers, staff, partners, and collaborators across the state.
At the FSA State Conference on October 12, NC AgrAbility's Crystal Cook Marshall presented on NC AgrAbility to 60 Farm Service Agency directors and staff. Along with ECU Agromedicine, the team also conducted a mini-refresher course in CPR and Stop the Bleed.
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On October 13, Betty Rodriguez participated at the Farmer Veteran Coalition of North Carolina Western Educational Conference sponsored by the Frontline to Farm program and hosted at the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Boone, NC. More
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The Grassroots Leadership Conference, Charlotte, NC, October 17, was a conference that brings together diverse stakeholders from across North Carolina to learn about new community development initiatives and identify strategies to improve the quality of life in communities, particularly among underserved and limited-resource populations. More
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On October 25, NC Cooperative Extension at NCA&T and NCSU hosted the Center for Environmental Farming Systems Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility at Cherry Research Farm tour, where researchers presented their current work and projects. More
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The Farmer Veteran Coalition of North Carolina Eastern Educational Conference was hosted at the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension office in Fayetteville, NC, on October 27. Betty Rodriguez chaired the planning committee for the event. More
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Over the years, the Ohio AgrAbility Program has sponsored collegiate capstone projects. Some projects are specific for undergraduate engineering students, and some are for occupational therapy or public health students. More
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AgrAbility PA and PSU Ag Safety partnered to provide information to Amish families with school-age children through a partnership with a rural fire company. The fire company has several volunteers who are Amish and who were providing safety and health education to all the Amish schools in Centre County, Penn's Valley, PA. More
AgrAbility staff gave a presentation about AgrAbility PA to OTA students at Penn State Mont Alto Campus in Mont Alto, PA on October 23 & 24. More
Abbie Spackman, project coordinator with PSU, presented an interactive workshop to the Centre County, PA Agricultural Forum. This is an agricultural group that meets monthly for education, community, and support. More
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The South Carolina AgrAbility team continues to work with a client who is interested in the hand controls for his tractor. Assistance has been asked for assistive technology and vocational rehabilitation. Staff are still in the process of assisting the gentleman.
The team has attended events to spread the word about AgrAbility and its offerings and will continue this endeavor through the rest of the year. More
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Thanks for the big impact all the AgrAbility stories shared this month on the AgrAbility Virtual State Fair! |
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TN Association of Rescue Squads received the 1st annual Friend of TN AgrAbility award at the 2023 TARS Convention for their hard work and dedication to the TN Grain Bin Safety/Rescue Awareness trainings for ag producers and rescue personnel throughout Tennessee. More
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TN AgrAbility partnered with Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, UT TSU Extension, and UT MANAGE to host the 2nd annual Cultivate Women in Ag conference. There were 42 women producers in attendance and topics included: More
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Tennessee AgrAbility in collaboration with Tennessee Department of Human Services (TN DHS) celebrated National Disability Employment Month by hosting the Resource Ability Assistive Technology Access Fair in Lebanon, TN. The annual event showcased the importance of assistive technology in the lives of people with different abilities. More
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On October 10th, TNAP promoted World Mental Health Day. A great local reminder was written on round cotton modules on Hwy 22 North in Huntingdon, TN. More
TN AgrAbility partnered with STAR Center at the TN Taste of Technology Expo in Brentwood. This event connected 89 vision- and hearing-impaired individuals to a wider world with technology for work, home, and everyday life.
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AgrAbility of Utah staff attended the Utah Nonprofits Lunch and Learn Event on October 10 in Logan, Utah, where attendees learned valuable tips about marketing, outreach, and hiring.
On October 23, AgrAbility the staff was able to present to 23 members of the Cache Interagency Council in Logan, UT.
The AgrAbility staff was excited to visit with many of the 120 farmers and ranchers who attended the Central Utah Grazing Expo on October 17-18. The two-day event was sponsored by Utah State University Extension and was taught in Richfield and Bicknell, Utah. Sheep nutrition, poisonous plants, electric fencing options, and flood irrigation efficiency were just some of the many classes that were taught.
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AgrAbility Virginia participated in multiple outreach activities during the month of October. From a farm tour in Fauquier County to a veterans hospital job fair for individuals with disabilities, the team was able to network with new faces in the agricultural community. The team is currently working with 34 open farmer cases, including a horse farmer for whom the staff is looking into assisting with his farming needs. |
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A big thank you to Paul Jones for coordinating another year of AgrAbility Virtual State Fair! Washington AgrAbility enjoyed the opportunity to showcase some of the home visits and some of the exciting changes to our team from the past year. |
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Don McMoran, Washington AgrAbility program director, Debbie Fredricks and Deb Eidsness, Washington AgrAbility co-coordinators, all attended the "Mãlama the Farmer, Caring for Yourself and Each Other" AgrAbility regional workshop in Hilo, Hawaii. They really enjoyed the speakers and tours, and they were able to bring lots of information with them back to Washington.
Deb Eidsness and Don McMoran conducted a site visit with a couple who raise Maine Anjou cattle, grow hay, and have a small meat processing operation. They both had recent injuries from cattle accidents and look forward to AT suggestions to make life easier for them. Deb has two more site visits scheduled for next week as well.
Emily Whittier, Washington AgrAbility co-coordinator had the opportunity to partner with a farmer PPE (personal protective equipment) distribution activity in Clark County, WA, where she distributed AgrAbility information to each farmer picking up supplies. More
Alyssa Wade, Washington AgrAbility co-coordinator, and Emily Whittier went on an exciting site visit to a Native Plants Nursery owned and operated by the Umatilla Tribe. They observed their everyday activities and visited with the employees about recurring injuries that are happening on the operation. More
Emily Whittier and Deb Eidsness attended the annual Tilth Alliance Conference, in Port Townsend where they had a table of AgrAbility information and AT. The Washington farmers and the agricultural service providers at the conference were very enthusiastic about the program and the lending library of assistive technology.
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The AgrAbilty for Africa staff is currently engaged in HIV/AIDS and diabetes outreach awareness, and at the same time spreading knowledge on success stories of living and working productively with HIV and diabetes. This is to support mental health and spread hope to those affected in rural farming communities. More
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Leslie Shallcross, MS, RDN, LD, and professor of Extension - health, home, and family development, will be taking over as the new project director for the Alaska AgrAbility project.
DeShana York, co-PI and part of the Alaska AgrAbility team from the beginning of the project, will be transitioning off of the team to work on some other special projects she has been asked to lead. She sent a note on October 30th to the national AgrAbility listserv expressing her gratitude for the many relationships she has made and the inspiring work that she has been a part of in the "Last Frontier" regionally and nationally.
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We are welcoming Toni Small as our new contract staff working directly with our fishing clients. Toni has been representing the fishing industry for the past two years on our advisory council (AC). Taking her place on the AC is Monique Coombs who is the wife of a lobsterman and has been working with staff on providing Yoga for Fishermen. She is also the community coordinator for the Maine Coast Fishing Association.
Sadly, we said goodbye to Gary Nadeau who has been on our AC since the inception of Maine AgrAbility.
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Michigan AgrAbility welcomes Samantha Wolfe as the new agricultural and occupational health educator with Michigan State University (MSU) Extension. Wolfe brings a wealth of experience to her position, having previously overseen numerous education initiatives at a 2000-acre environmental facility in New Jersey, benefiting thousands annually. 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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PA Farm Link is now offering a new ag educational tool called the PA Farm Link Academy. Learning modules found within the Academy are geared towards high schoolers, beginning farmers, experienced farmers, and ag professionals. The Academy currently offers learning modules on the following topics:
...............- 4 P's of Finance
.............. -Understanding Ag Leasing
..............-PA Farm Link Overview (English & Spanish Options Available)
..............-Starting a Food Business
.............. -New Farmer Programs through USDA
.............. -Grants & the PA Preferred Program
.............. -Business Planning
.............. -...and more in 2024!
...........For inquiries about the Academy, please contact PA Farm Link at ...........farmland@pafarmlink.org or call 717-705-2121.
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