Minnesota

The Minnesota AgrAbility Project held its annual Fence Line Conference on March 18-19 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The event was attended by former, current, and new AgrAbility participants, along with other individuals interested in the Minnesota AgrAbility Project.

The annual event included numerous informational sessions on farm related issues including "Emergency Preparedness," "Secondary Injury Prevention," "Peer Mentoring," "Social Networking," and a presentation on "20 Years of AgrAbility."

The conference also afforded participants time to network with one another, discuss the challenges of farming with a disability, and the effects on the entire family. The "natural peer mentoring" that takes place during this time was priceless.

One of the highlights of this year's conference was a demonstration by Tim Swenson from Action Manufacturing, located in Marshall, Minnesota. Action Manufacturing is the manufacturer of the "Action Track Chair," a power wheel chair with tracks designed for outdoor use including hunting, fishing, farming, and other outdoor related activities.

A new Action Track Chair was demonstrated at the conference and will be available soon. The new chair is a "standing" version of the Action Track Chair, enabling the individual to stand in the chair and also drive the chair in this standing position. Many of the new features being designed into this chair will greatly increase the potentials and abilities of a disabled farmer to complete tasks independently.

The pictures are of the new Standing Action Track Chair being tried by a conference participant who stood in a wheelchair for the first time in 20 years.

The Minnesota AgrAbility Project hosted a booth at the 30th Annual AgriNews Farm Show at the Graham Arena located in Rochester, Minnesota. The two day event held March 21-22 was attended by over 5,000 people and had over 180 exhibitors. AgrAbility brochures and information were handed out, giving staff the opportunity to visit with farm families from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Numerous new contacts were made during the two day event.

The Minnesota AgrAbility Project hosted a booth at the Central Minnesota Farm Show at the St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Over 4,000 people attended the three day event held February 28-March 1. AgrAbility brochures and information were handed out, again giving staff the opportunity to visit with farm families from Minnesota and neighboring states. Numerous new contacts were made during the two day event.

Submitted by Dan Stores