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November 2025
A monthly update for AgrAbility projects and friends of AgrAbility
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2026 NTW Updates
- To reserve your room click on the Hotel Reservation Link. The last day to reserve a room is February 12, 2026. Please don't wait until the last minute to reserve your room. More
- The window for session proposals has ended. The planning committee will be reviewing the submissions this month and will notify presenters in December.
- Poster submissions will be accepted through January 31, and that form is available on the NTW website and through the Call for posters- online.
- Farmer stipend applications are now being accepted. The application is available under the Stipend on the NTW website and through Farmer Stipend Application.
- The exhibitor form is also available on the NTW website under the Exhibitor tab. Please pass this along to anyone you feel 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, November 19: “Bee Calm, Bee Well.” Beekeeping is an emerging therapeutic intervention being used by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Heroes to Hives program that can teach mindfulness and positively impact veteran mental health. More
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NAP is pleased to provide the new publication, De vuelta a la granja, de regreso a nuestra actividad: Una guía para la salud de la espalda en la agricultura (“Back to the farm and return to our activity: A guide for back health in agriculture”). For print copies contact jonesp@purdue.edu, and for the PDF click here.
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Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and NY FarmNet held a regional workshop in Lake Placid, NY, November 12-13. More information about that event will be shared next month.
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Ed Bell was paralyzed in 1982 as the result of a violent crime. He’s been involved with AgrAbility since that time as a client, consultant, and friend. NAP is producing a new video about Ed and his family. Take a look at the previteaser.
Newly archived virtual events:
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With Livestock Virtual Fencing, a producer can keep track of animals within a given pasture area and relocate them to another part of that area or another area altogether. This allows him/her to practice rotational grazing without having to erect, constantly move, and maintain a physical fence. Most systems consist of (1) a GPS base unit with transmitting app; (2) a digital device (computer, tablet, smartphone); and (3) a solar or battery-powered collar worn by the animal, which emits both auditory and electrical stimuli. When nearing the pre-programmed fence boundary, the animal receives an auditory cue; when reaching the boundary, it experiences a physical shock, like that from a high-tensile electric fencing.
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Alaska Agrability staff members have been busy planning new activities to accomplish this year, including a "Farmer 101 Academy" with a focus on how to accomplish tasks with ongoing disabling conditions.
In November, staff have planned visits by Ned Stoller to perform on-site client assessments in interior AK and consulting/training to support our Fishability efforts.
Staff have also planned to offer workshops in produce storage with tips for ergonomics and accessible site adaptations.
ATLA participated in the ALASKA DISABILITY & AGING SUMMIT, an event sponsored by the Alaska Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education. They provided demonstrations and information to several hundred people including employment caseworkers.
| | In September, Hannah Cefalo and Ashley Buchanan presented at two of the four Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) regional "Community of Practice" meetings. Each rehabilitation specialist was given a full hour to introduce AgrAbility 101, provide an in-depth overview of the DVR report components, and explore opportunities for greater collaboration between DVR and Colorado AgrAbility. More | |
Cody, a U.S. Army veteran with a traumatic brain injury and new Colorado AgrAbility client, has begun developing a farm-based sanctuary for veterans in the Colorado Springs area. As part of his journey, and as a collaboration with CSU Extension, Cody partnered with Don, a previous AgrAbility client (pictured on the right), for labor support. More
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The Colorado AgrAbility Project was selected as one of the organizations to participate in hosting a booth at the Love Earth Village during Neil Young's concert in Denver, CO, on 9/1/25. The Love Earth Village showcases passionate and effective organizations working on environmental conservation, education, policy change, and best-practice implementation while connecting grass root efforts to a much larger audience.
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Florida AgrAbility and Georgia AgrAbility partnered to host a joint booth at the 2025 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA. The programs shared resources and information on assistive technologies and services to support farmers and ranchers with disabilities or chronic health conditions. More
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On October 11th and 12th, Beth Meyer, executive director of Florida Independent Living Council, Inc., Florida AgrAbility's partner organization, forged connections and shared information on Florida AgrAbility programs during farm tour visits to farms in Madison County, Florida
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On October 22nd, Dr. Vanessa Spero, Florida AgrAbility outreach coordinator and 4-H regional specialized Extension agent, and Noelle Guay, 4-H Extension agent in Palm Beach County, presented at Florida Afterschool's Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Their session introduced "Barnyard Challengers," a 4-H club that engages youth with disabilities in poultry projects, to youth educators from across the state. More
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Shelby Thomas, Florida AgrAbility communication and engagement specialist, attended the Florida Farm Bureau Federation 84th State Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach, FL, on October 27th and 28th. The state annual meeting is the pinnacle of Florida Farm Bureau's grassroots advocacy. More
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AgrAbility staff attended the Georgia National Fair with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) for their "Day at the Fair" event. Staff were able to share about AgrAbility and VR services with 1,200 students. More
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Georgia and Florida AgrAbility had a great Sunbelt Ag Expo this year, with both states getting multiple new clients from the show! Staff were also thrilled to have the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Georgia, Action Track Chair, and All-Terrain Georgia with them to showcase a variety of assistive technologies and programs available to producers with disabilities.
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The wife of client Donald Adams was featured multiple times this month on RFD-TV's show FarmHER. Check out the summary of the show: "Laura Adams' husband, Donald, managed their farm for 50 years before an accident left him seriously injured... More
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On October 8, Lisa Becker and Marty Cotterman from Life Essentials delivered presentations during the Easterseals Crossroads INDATA full-day training, "Assistive Technology for Individuals with Mobility Impairments". Attendees received an overview of the extensive support available to farmers and other stakeholders, highlighting the AgrAbility Toolbox and website. More
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In collaboration with Easterseals Crossroads, Indiana AgrAbility hosted the Agricultural Assistive Technology Expo at Huntington University - an inspiring, hands-on event showcasing how innovative assistive technologies are transforming the way farmers with disabilities can work safely, efficiently, and independently. The event brought together occupational therapy students, vocational rehabilitation staff, and other professionals to explore tools and adaptive machinery designed to make agricultural tasks more accessible. More
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Staff member Brie Weisman attended the Professional Logging Contractors annual meeting. Attendees included workers' comp companies, insurers, and professional logging contractors, and it was an opportunity to stay updated on injury claims and trends within the industry.
Coordinator Bella Russo attended the first annual Downeast Family Fishing Forum and facilitated attendee conversational sessions with Sunrise County Economic Council staff as well as Maine Coast Fisherman's Association staff.
Maine Calling hosted an episode on assistive technology in Maine. Staff members Ketra Crosson and Bella Russo participated and provided ME AgrAbility program information to listeners.
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In mid-October, MSU's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine connected the Michigan AgrAbility team with a visiting fellow, Usher Mandisekwe, from Zimbabwe who expressed an interest in assistive technology for women working in greenhouses and horticulture, through Africa's largest disability-serving nonprofit, the Jairos Jiri Association. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jairos_Jiri_Association More
The Michigan AgrAbility staff, leadership team, and stakeholders also gathered in East Lansing to follow up on the 2024 strategic planning session and maintain momentum going into 2026. New outreach avenues and connections to rural health were some of the key topics.
Ned Stoller and Samantha Wolfe are also working with Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Heroes to Hives, and the MSU AgBioResearch's Forestry Innovation Center to offer a maple sap tubing workshop in the Upper Peninsula on Veteran's Day. For many farmers, veterans, and small producers, the physical demands of making maple syrup can create barriers to participating in or expanding their operations. More
The Michigan team is also eagerly working to coordinate tour stops, sponsors, partners, and sessions for the upcoming NTW.
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Karen Funkenbusch, David Middleton, and Kirk Funkenbusch, all members of Missouri AgrAbility and the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center programs at MU Extension, took part in the annual professional conference of the Brain Injury Association of Missouri in St. Louis. The schedule was filled with educational sessions, inspiring speakers, chances to network with colleagues and vendors, and access to valuable resources. More
This month, the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) team collaborated with the University of Missouri Extension to develop a marketing strategy focused on engaging key audiences through a short video. The video showcases Navy veteran Kit Smith, an AgrAbility Ambassador, as he shares his healing journey, the connections he has made, and his renewed sense of purpose through Heroes to Hives of MO & MAP. More
Karen Funkenbusch had the chance to attend the 111th International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) Convention, which took place from October 6-8, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The IAIABC is a group of workers' compensation agencies from various jurisdictions worldwide, along with private organizations that provide workers' compensation benefits and services. More
Extension Agents participating in the Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program (ISFOP) at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension (LUCE) also carried out significant Missouri AgrAbility educational programs and marketing efforts. Extension agents Susan Jaster and Mary Keeter showcased Missouri AgrAbility: Adaptive Farming Strategies at a conference organized by Lincoln University. More
Extension agents Bryan DeValdivia and Mary Keeter shared Missouri AgrAbility information with over 100 attendees at a Lincoln University sponsored program titled Finca Fest on October 28.
Extension agents Julia Thompson and Mary Keeter shared details about Missouri AgrAbility during a workshop that had 40 participants registered for Urban Farming 101. This event was sponsored by Lincoln University and was held in St. Louis, Missouri.
Maureen Cunningham, who is with BIA-MO and is a co-PI for Missouri AgrAbility, increased the distribution of the Brain Injury Resource Kits by collaborating with the marketing team of Missouri AgrAbility. This took place during a meeting with the staff of Select Medical Specialty Hospital - Springfield on October 27. More
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The Easterseals Nebraska team recently gathered at the future site of its new campus in Blair, Nebraska. It was an inspiring day filled with updates on upcoming projects, innovative technologies, and valuable face-to-face time, something extra special for their largely remote team. More
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AgrAbility connected with students in Albion, Nebraska, during Boone County Business and Industry Day. Students stepped into the shoes of farmers and ranchers with visual impairments, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced in agriculture. More
Emily Jacobson, Nebraska AgrAbility program manager, recently learned about a new assistive device that makes driving small T-posts into the ground easier. This task is especially important for farmers and ranchers during fall when fencing off cornstalks for cattle. More
Nebraska AgrAbility staff are waiting for a few clients to be approved for services from Nebraska VR. Once approved, they'll be back on the road for visits!
Ed Sheldon (Purdue/National AgrAbility) and Soni Cochran (Nebraska Extension/AgrAbility) presented at the National Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Conference held in Maine, October 21-23. More
Dr. Aaron Yoder (UNMC/Nebraska AgrAbility) also attended the session and came up to join the presenters to provide valuable insight into mapping resources that help producers prepare for emergency events. Learn more about EDEN and the annual conference at: https://extensiondisaster.net/news-events/annual-meeting/
Soni Cochran serves as the EDEN Executive Leadership Team liaison on the National AgrAbility Advisory Board. In her new role, she attended the board meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, the week of October 13. More
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NMAP's Day on the Farm event in September was successful. The NMAP team has analyzed feedback and hopes to build upon the event with more venders for an in-person or virtual event in future years.
NM occupational therapy students are developing an OT addendum to NMAP's farm-site assessment to systematically document best practices to support apprentice employment in agricultural trades.
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On November 6, farm apprentices at non-profit partner Mandy's Farm participated in focus group research related to farm apprenticeship programs.
On November 7-8, iPads describing farmer and rancher stories were available at the NM Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.
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Ohio AgrAbility's rural rehabilitation coordinator, Randy Joseph, recently visited a farmer struggling with the frequent carrying of heavy, five-gallon buckets of water and feed due to a mobility impairment. The farmer discussed the difficulty and strain involved in managing these daily chores. More
Disability Services Coordinator Laura Akgerman attended the National 4-H Youth Development Conference in Atlanta, GA, and was inspired by the hands-on activities presented in most of the sessions. She plans to develop several interactive activities for outreach events.
Laura also co-presented "OTs and Ohio AgrAbility - Working Together to Keep Farmers with Disabilities Farming" with Logan Fields, assistant professor at Wilmington College's rural OT program. The audience was very engaged, and many stayed late to ask questions and get more resources.
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Marci Walborn presented to OT/OTA students at multiple universities throughout the month, including Central Penn College and Moravian University. Marci also attended the POTA Conference in Wilkes-Barre from Oct. 24th-26th.
Em Kase attended Senator Tartaglione's Day of Disability at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on Oct. 28th. Em also provided an educational presentation to the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living ATRC staff about AgrAbility and its services and resources.
In October, Linda Fetzer received an achievement award for her work in agricultural safety and health programming from the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) during its Safety Summit held in San Antonio, Texas.
| | TN AgrAbility was highlighted during the third full week of October on National AgrAbility social media sites. The social media event hosted by the National AgrAbility Project began in February 2025 to highlight state AgrAbility projects around the country. More | | |
TN AgrAbility, along with KY friends Dr. Cheryl Witt and Dale Dobson from KY Raising Hope, recently attended the "Answering the Call" Tennessee First Responder Conference in Murfreesboro, TN. During the event, Dale Dobson delivered an inspiring message about the importance of reminding farmers that they are valued and appreciated. More
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TN AgrAbility is thrilled to celebrate Teresa Wininger of Surgoinsville, TN, as recipient of a new outdoor wheelchair to support her daily farming activities. Teresa and her husband, Mike, manage a 200-acre sheep farm, where she continues her lifelong passion for raising and showing sheep. More
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TN AgrAbility partnered with TN State University Cooperative Extension, TN New Farmer Academy, and AgVols Opportunities on FarmLand to host the 2025 3rd TN State University Veteran Ag Boot Camp. This outreach and education three-day opportunity prepared 15 veterans with the tools, training, and connections to thrive in agriculture. More
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TN AgrAbility exhibited at the annual TN Association of Rescue Squads (TARS) Convention & training event. There were 438 in attendance from across the state of Tennessee for hands-on classes to improve rescue skills and knowledge. More
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TN AgrAbility presented to 28 students at the annual Gibson County Adult & Youth Leadership Class on the project and featured videos on Gibson County and Robertson County TN AgrAbility farmers.
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In October, AgrAbility visited Robertson County to conduct an informal farm assessment for a local rancher who has been farming for nearly 20 years following a life-altering ATV accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the physical challenges, his passion for agriculture remains strong, with cattle and hay as his primary enterprises. More
Texas AgrAbility recently participated in the Living Well Employee Wellness event where they staffed an informational table to raise awareness about injury prevention in agriculture. The team showcased a variety of ergonomic tools designed to promote safer work practices and reduce the risk of strain and injury for agricultural workers as well as for weekend gardeners. More
AgrAbility recently hosted an introductory session for occupational therapy students at the University of St. Augustine, offering insights into how the program supports farmers and ranchers with disabilities. As these students prepare for their capstone projects, the presentation highlighted the vital role occupational therapists can play in agricultural accessibility and rehabilitation. More
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AgrAbility of Utah staff was excited to present at the Organic Crop School in Price, Utah, on October 7th. The event was sponsored by Utah State University Extension and the Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Attendees learned about organic certification and production and producer's experiences.
On October 16, AgrAbility staff presented to the USU Extension's Confidence Project. The mission of the Confidence Project is: Empowering youth and adults to enhance their own social-emotional well-being, to develop skills that promote resilience, to increase their leadership capacity, and ultimately provides them with a framework on which they can build a successful life.
AgrAbility staff set up a vendor booth and visited with many farmers and ranchers at the Northern Utah Conservation District Soil Health Conference in Logan, Utah, on October 30. Some of the many topics included cover crops, soil health, and no-till drilling.
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October was packed with opportunities for AgrAbility Virginia to engage with communities through exhibits, fairs, presentations and more. Pictured is Program Coordinator Roberto Franco at South River Elementary's Ag Day, demonstrating to K-2nd graders how assistive technology helps farmers work safely and sustainably.
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Program Director Kim Niewolny addressed the audience at the Farm-to-Table Feast and Harvest Celebration at Sunny Slope Farm. Attendees celebrated soil, farming, food, and community with a dinner made from locally sourced ingredients.
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Across Virginia and even in Oregon, the team continued building connections. Kim also represented AgrAbility Virginia at the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Conference in Corvallis, OR, where she led a roundtable session highlighting the program's role and its partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension to support farmers and farm laborers in advancing health and wellness in agriculture. More
A key highlight from October was meeting in person with students from Mary Baldwin University's physical therapy program. This partnership will allow the students to complete their capstone project with AgrAbility Virginia, applying their expertise to support farmers with physical challenges. More
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AgrAbility of Wisconsin staff and NAP's Chuck Baldwin exhibited at World Dairy Expo from September 30th - October 3rd. World Dairy Expo is an annual event that includes a dairy cattle show, education, and the world's largest dairy-focused trade show with over 55,000 people attending the event. More
AgrAbility Outreach Program Coordinator Michelle Bachand attended the NCR-SARE regional training session Paths to Sustainability with Farm Labor on October 16th. The event provided an opportunity to engage with professionals focused on sustainable agriculture and farm labor solutions. More
AgrAbility of Wisconsin hosted a Neighbor-to-Neighbor peer networking event at Kuhl Farms in Amery, WI, on October 28th. Local farmers had the opportunity to see how Larry Kuhl was able to incorporate assistive technology into his dairy operation. More
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The AgrAbility staff is spending more time operating in rural mountain areas on unpaved and slippery roads, not uncommon during the rainy seasons in October and November.
The efforts focus on advocating and connecting small farmers with big farm holders to consolidate the transportation of harvest to markets to reduce losses when many transport trucks fail to reach many farms due to poor road conditions. More
| | Special recognition and congratulations to Ashley Buchanan who is heading out on maternity leave to soon welcome her baby boy into the world. | NMAP bids a very fond farewell to Sophie Trusty, who has collaborated with NMAP in her role as the program director for the Farming Apprenticeship Program. Sophie - we wish you the best in your future endeavors. | Em Kase parted ways with AgrAbility PA on October 31st. Em has enjoyed Em's time with AgrAbility thoroughly throughout the year and is sad to be leaving. Em may be helping out with social media until a new community specialist is hired! | | |
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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