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March 2011

National AgrAbility Project News

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! The Arthritis, Agriculture, and Rural Life: State of the Art Research, Practices, and Applications Conference (AARL Conference) will be held at the Purdue University Beck Center in West Lafayette, IN May 11-13. more

On February 24-25, 23 people from 7 states met in Corvallis, Oregon for the Northwest AgrAbility Workshop. more

The National AgrAbility Project and Indiana AgrAbility staffed a display at the 2011 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, February 16-19, 2011. more

Amber Wolfe spoke on the topic of "Gaining Ground on Arthritis Pain in All Generations of Farm Families and Farm Workers" at the 2011 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference in Kearney, NE on February 17. more

The new AgrAbility video is available for viewing at the NAP YouTube channel.

Click here for the schedule of upcoming Community of Interest and Standing Committee call information.

State and Regional AgrAbility Project News

California

CalAgrAbility staff were asked to present at the National AgrAbility Rehab Workshop in Corvallis, OR, which was well-attended. more

Reaching male farmworkers has always been a challenge, so a local nonprofit and CalAgrAbility, local farmers, and other agencies conducted a safety event just for males, QUE VIVA LA VIDA. more

NRCS partners highlighted CalAgrAbility in the current USDA e-News CA Edition Volume 3 along with the Farmer Veteran Coalition. more

The 2011 Western Migrant Stream Forum was held in Oakland, CA, and CalAg staffed a booth and attended workshops. more

Along with the Pacific Region Arthritis Foundation (AF), CalAgrAbility is preparing for arthritis events coming up in April and May centered around walking and activity fairs in Sacramento and the Central Valley. more

Colorado

Colorado AgrAbility staff met with Nebraska AgrAbility clients Eric and Dana Beckman during their recent visit to Colorado. more

Indiana

Breaking New Ground/Indiana AgrAbility was invited by Angie Abbott, the Associate Director of Health and Human Science (HHS) Extension, to the spring HHS extension educator training meeting at the Beck Center on the Purdue Agronomy Farm. more

Amber Wolfe is presenting arthritis and agriculture seminars at each of the 16 Area Agencies on Aging across Indiana. more

Amber Wolfe was the luncheon speaker at the Dubois County/Southwest Purdue Crop Seminar in Jasper, IN on March 1.

Missouri

Russell Ramsey, volunteer farmer, continues to lead Missouri’s effort to formalize a statewide AgrAbility volunteer peer support and caregiver network. more

Robert Myers from the NCR – SARE program showcased the Missouri AgrAbility Program at the Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference at the Lake of Ozark.

AgrAbility staff members showcased the MAP during the Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives State Convention, in Columbia, MO.

AgrAbility participated in the Women as Landowners Conference sponsored by the local USDA FSA, SWCD, NRCS, and University of Missouri Extension. more

AgrAbility staff members exhibited agricultural disability, fitness, ergonomic, and health displays at the 2011 Western Farm Show. more

AgrAbility also participated in an Arthritis Awareness: Overviews, Breakthroughs, and Answers workshop. more

AgrAbility staff members continued to work on the Consumers and Caregivers Barn Builders publication. more

Volunteer master gardeners continue their efforts of presenting the AgrAbility Gardens for Every Body program to the public with small acres throughout rural Missouri. more

Nebraska

The newly formed Nebraska AgrAbility Advisory Committee met for the first time in February. more

Amber Wolfe, National Arthritis Foundation, presented a session about arthritis and its prevalence in the agricultural community at Nebraska’s Women in Ag program February 17. more

Nebraska’s new retractable banner was rolled out during the Buffalo Bill Farm and Ranch Expo February 2-3 in North Platte and later that week at the KNEB Expo in Scottsbluff. more

Nebraska AgrAbility recently posted two new success stories on their website. more

Oklahoma

Oklahoma AgrAbility has had 11 Oklahoma Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators teach 42 self-help arthritis classes, with 60 people participating.

Oklahoma AgrAbility attended the 106th State Convention of American Farmers and Ranchers on February 18-19.

Oklahoma AgrAbility had a booth at the Central Tech Open House on February 20th.

Oklahoma AgrAbility calendars were mailed to 67 Oklahoma Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators, 9 secretaries (for counties with no FCS educator currently), 4 DPS, and 4 District Directors.

On February 18, Linda Jaco presented at the OSU School of Osteopathic Medicine to 30 residents who specialize in Rural Medicine.

Sandra Stevenson, Oklahoma Project Case Manager, attended the AgrAbility Oregon Workshop February 24-25, 2011 in Corvallis, OR. more

Vermont

The VCIL AgrAbility staff have been busy working with peers, putting together the quarterly peer newsletter, touring and working at the Vermont Statehouse with state agricultural representatives, attending Town Meetings, making spring work plans, answering inquiries, working on setting up a new TBI peer support group in a area of the state that is under-served, and praying hard that the snow stops falling! Six days until spring!

West Virginia

West Virginia AgrAbility is happy to share another success story of a farmer carrying on his farm operation with a little assistance from West Virginia AgrAbility and the Division for Rehabilitation Services (DRS). more

Staff exhibited and presented West Virginia AgrAbility at the 7th Annual Small Farm Conference, held February 18 and 19 in Morgantown. more

Wyoming

Wyoming AgrAbility sponsored Dr. Temple Grandin’s visit to the University of Wyoming on February 28, 2011. more

Wyoming AgrAbility had a booth presence at “Different After the War?”- a presentation by Retired Army National Guard Major D.C. Faber, sponsored by Veteran’s Services Center and Wyoming’s Veteran’s Commission.

Wyoming AgrAbility had a booth and gave a presentation at the WESTI Ag Days in Worland, WY. more

Staff Changes

Oklahoma

Welcome to Julie York, the new Program Coordinator for Oklahoma AgrAbility.

AgrAbility in the News

Click here for news stories featuring AgrAbility projects.

Other News

Click here for other news of interest to AgrAbility staff members.

Upcoming Events

Click here for professional development events related to AgrAbility.

Problems? Contact Clifford Racz, National AgrAbility Project, racz@purdue.edu