North Carolina

NC AgrAbility partnered with the Arthritis Foundation-Mid-Atlantic Region to apply successfully for funds from the Agricultural Safety and Health Council for America. The income is to provide a train-the-trainer series on arthritis and musculoskeletal injury awareness for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, based on the Missouri AgrAbility curriculum. Karen Funkenbusch from Missouri AgrAbility will be leading the first two-day workshop. Three train-the-trainer sessions will be conducted statewide, starting in Fall 2014.

Dr. Mary Hildebrand, with ECU College of Allied Health Sciences, led a continuing education session entitled "Cultivating Accessible Agriculture with NC AgrAbility". Dr. Hildebrand, along with Robin Tutor-Marcom and Michele Proctor, led a group of 13 attendees in an extensive discussion about topics related to AgrAbility, aging farmers, risks on the farm and adaptive farming techniques. The day wrapped up with a farm visit and assessment overview at Porter Farms in Kannapolis.

The NC AgrAbility Advisory Board met May 14 in Greenville for project updates, NTW highlights and 2014 student design & research project outcomes. Michele Proctor provided AgrAbility news updates for the NC Agromedicine Institute Board of Partners meeting following the board meeting.

NC AgrAbility participated in a veterans' services outreach and coordination meeting hosted by RAFI, with Michael O'Gorman from Farmer Veteran Coalition, on May 21 in Pittsboro. Project Coordinator Michele Proctor provided information about NC AgrAbility services and current veterans' activities.

Submitted by Michele Proctor