Missouri

July 9, Missouri staff participated in the AgrAbility Networking call with guest speaker Amanda Krenning, NY Farm Bureau. Amanda talked about Farm Bureau, the programs and services available, and how to best network with local Farm Bureaus. Amanda also addressed participant questions.

On- and off-campus University of Missouri AgrAbility staff participated in many regional AgrAbility activities.

• MU Extension Regional AgrAbility Coordinators were busy assisting with onsite farmstead assessments and showcasing AgrAbility at University of Missouri county fairs.
•  AgrAbility interactive health, safety, and wellness displays were used at the Cape Girardeau County 4-H Achievement Day in Cape Girardeau, MO.
• AgrAbility interactive health, safety, and wellness displays as well as pharmacy students from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy on MU campus were on board to facilitate health screenings at the Cooper County Youth Fair.
• MU Extension AgrAbility staff facilitated training programs in Jefferson City and St. Louis. AgrAbility staff worked with new key stakeholders (agencies, organizations, and volunteers) to help them intervene directly with greater expertise and make competent referrals to appropriate service providers, including AgrAbility and other collaborative partners.
• MU Extension AgrAbility staff provided an in-service for the Alzheimer's Support Group Mid Missouri Chapter in Columbia and Alzheimer's Support Group Southwest Missouri Chapter in Springfield. Participants received an overview of the Missouri AgrAbility Project and how they can aid ImProve Health Amongst Rural Missourians (IPHARM) through education, networking, and onsite farmstead assistance, and services.

Pharm to Farm Project On-Site Farmstead Medication Assessments and Evaluations was successfully launched July 1. Eleven mid-Missouri AgrAbility clients were offered on-the-farm assessments by pharmacists and upper level student pharmacists. This free service was provided to help Missouri AgrAbility clients get the most out of their medicines and improve their overall health. Examples of services provided included: medication assessments, health screenings, and medication education and safety tips. Pharm to Farm is a joint partnership between the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy on the MU campus and Missouri AgrAbility Project.

Dr. Cochran from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Pharmacy on the MU campus also offered two upper pharmacy students a Rural Pharmacy Practice Elective APPE - PHAR with the AgrAbility Pharm to Farm Project. Tracy Harlan and Melissa Navinskey, UMKC School of Pharmacy, Pharm.D. Candidate, Class of 2014,participated in direct client care; lead a variety of health initiatives to advance the access to pharmaceutical care for AgrAbility clients living in mid-Missouri, provided health screenings, and presented educational seminars. Karen Funkenbusch and Kelly Cochran also provided students with AgrAbility training.

Karen Funkenbusch presented an AgrAbility Using the right tools for your small gardening needs program at the Native Plants and Sprouts and Roots Conference sponsored by Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. Participants received the AgrAbility Gardens For Every Body Handbook. Tracy Harlan and Melissa Navinskey, UMKC School of Pharmacy, Pharm.D. Candidate, Class of 2014,also presented an AgrAbility Pharm to Farm program on "How the food on your plate affects your pills: What you need to know for safe medication use," followed by providing one-on-one medication consultants. The target audience included minority men and women, 50 or older, and with little or no vegetable gardening experience. Promoting well-being through nutrition, wellness, and gardening was the conference theme.

Submitted by Karen Funkenbusch