Dan Stores and Carol Fury from the Minnesota AgrAbility Project participated in the annual statewide conventions for the Minnesota Farm Bureau (95th annual convention) and Minnesota Farmers Union (72nd annual convention). Memberships for these two organizations cover the entire state of Minnesota, representing all 87 counties, including the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Over 800 individuals attended the two events that were held over the weekend of November 21-24 in Minneapolis.
The Minnesota AgrAbility Project greeted members and engaged them in discussions regarding services available to disabled farmers and their families. EquipALife had AgrAbility displays at conventions, providing information and packets of materials highlighting areas such as emergency preparedness, arthritis support, product solutions including assistive technology, and financial opportunities available through EquipALife's low interest loan program. This alternative finance program helps disabled farmers purchase equipment or modify and customize existing farm equipment.
The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture visited with AgrAbility staff expressing a high level of support for continuation of the AgrAbility program. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and numerous state senators and representatives were on hand to talk about the state of farming in Minnesota and the need for passing a Farm Bill soon.
Submitted by Dan Stores