Indiana AgrAbility participated in the Indiana Small Farms Conference at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Indiana. As a partner in the Purdue Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program grant with a focus on veterans, Indiana AgrAbility attended and participated in an all-day pre-conference workshop for 80-90 new and beginning farmers. Among a panel of beginning farmers were two AgrAbility clients. Steve Swain, rural rehabilitation specialist for Indiana AgrAbility, also participated as an exhibitor in the conference tradeshow and attended various workshop sessions to learn information that would be helpful to AgrAbility clients.
Indiana AgrAbility Rural Rehabilitation Specialist Steve Swain and Mark Bechman from USDA Rural Development jointly presented two programs for the IPickHere localization initiative. The presentations were given at the Fort Branch Library and the Evansville VFW to over 30 individuals, including many veterans who were farming or beginning to farm. IPickHere is a localization initiative that focuses on aggregating goods produced within 100 miles of the market location to optimize the physical and financial well-being of the community. AgrAbility was asked to participate by providing information and resources to individuals with physical and mental limitations and those who want to begin farming.
Submitted by Steve Swain
Linda Tarr attended the Indiana Farm Bureau Spring Conference and had a booth at the trade show. She also had a booth at the Starlight Vegetable Growers meeting, Brown County Soil and Water Conservation District annual meeting, Orange County Farm Bureau annual meeting, and the Taste of Technology at DePauw University. Linda met with Senator Donnelly's staff and is working with the committee to form an accessible community garden in Mitchell.
Submitted by Linda Tarr