Missouri

AgrAbility staff with the University of Missouri Extension increased the likelihood that Missouri farmers, ranchers, farm workers, and farm family members with disabilities experienced success in farming and farm-related occupations by addressing clients' unique needs through the following educating, networking, assisting, and marketing activities.

• Addressed AgrAbility's long-term strategy by providing a two and half hour face-to-face workshop to Mercy Hospital occupational and physical therapists. Within the context of production agriculture, 20 occupational and physical therapists learned how to safely accommodate AgrAbility clients with disabilities and how to help patients avoid secondary injuries. AgrAbility staff used PowerPoint presentations, video clips, booklets, websites, and firsthand testimony from one of their local farmers with a spinal cord injury who currently is going through outpatient occupational and physical therapy and the division of vocational rehabilitation process, to educate therapists about Missouri AgrAbility.
• Shared awareness materials and educational training resources with Missouri Farm Bureau County Board members and volunteer Master Gardeners assisting with an AgrAbility and farmer veteran vegetable garden demonstration project.
• Facilitated four individualized client consultative AgrAbility onsite farm assessments with MO Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehab Services for the Blind, an independent living center, and VA's Vocational Rehabilitation for veterans. Onsite farmstead efforts included product selection advice; accessibility and ergonomic recommendations; life activities and farm operations planning guidance; and advocacy to obtain additional services and financial aid. Direct assistance occurred in person and from a distance via email, telephone, and google docs.
• Marketing activities included public appearances with displays and distribution of program awareness materials, press releases, public service announcements, conducting radio interviews, and electronic notices.
  

The Kimberly Keller, Rebecca Mott, and Karen Funkenbusch PhotoVoice abstract poster was presented at the 2016 Annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Vancouver, BC, Canada, March 29th - April 2nd. See https://www.sfaa.net/. The purpose of the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) is to promote the investigation of the principles of human behavior and the application of these principles to contemporary issues and problems. The society is unique among professional associations in membership and purpose, representing the interests of professionals in a wide range of settings - academia, business, law, health, medicine, and government. The unifying factor is a commitment to making an impact on the quality of life in the world.

Submitted by Karen Funkenbusch

Missouri AgrAbility staffed a display at the Lincoln University Missouri Minority and Limited Resource Farmers conference held in Sikeston, MO, on March 4. Over 100 attendees were exposed to what AgrAbility is and does across the state of Missouri. The booth promoting AgrAbility was manned by David Middleton from Lincoln University.

Submitted by David Middleton

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy, a Missouri AgrAbility Project partner, provided outreach at the 55th annual Western Farm Show on February 27th at the American Royal. Seventeen student pharmacists screened blood pressure, provided heart health education for 85 individuals, screened blood sugar, provided diabetes prevention education for 68 individuals, and educated 48 individuals about the amount of "Sugar in Your Drink". Throughout the day, student pharmacists provided free health screenings at a value of over $4,000 for Western Farm Show attendees. They educated 26 individuals and families about safe medication administration for children. They educated 27 individuals about the importance of immunizations. They educated 74 individuals about the differences between medicine, poisons/candy, and about prescription drug abuse-a troubling problem particularly in rural communities.

Among potential AgrAbility clients receiving the screenings, several individuals were referred to urgent care or primary care based on out-of-range blood sugar or blood pressure results, as they had not seen their doctor in quite some time. The student pharmacists were especially inspired by an encounter with one farmer who had been told at his last doctor's visit that his blood sugar was elevated and was instructed to modify his diet and return in six months to see if it was still high to discuss medication. He was very excited that student pharmacists were providing free health screenings at the show so that he could check his progress. Upon discussion of the good results and encouragement that his hard work and lifestyle adjustments have paid off, he was beaming with pride that he turned down the free candy at every booth! He was so excited he tried to pay the students for the screening. They, of course, did not accept the money, but the situation reinforced the impact student pharmacists have on rural wellness and safety awareness.

Submitted by Kelly Cochran

Brain Injury Fact of the Day for March Brain Injury Awareness Month was very successful at increasing awareness about the Missouri AgrAbility Project and the Brain Injury Association. There was an increase in the number of calls to the Brain Injury Association of Missouri office and discussions and distribution of material about AgrAbility.

Maureen Cunningham, Brain Injury Association of Missouri, along with Karen Funkenbusch and other MU Extension personnel affiliated with AgrAbility, attended the Western Farm Show in Kansas City, MO, at the end of February. This marketing opportunity reaches a lot of farmers and ranchers throughout Missouri and surrounding states.

Submitted by Maureen Cunningham