Missouri
The Missouri AgrAbility Program was featured on pages 10-11 of "Extension strengthens communities by improving public health standards and expanding access to new, up-to-date health care practices," part of the Strengthening Community University of Missouri Extension Annual Report. In this annual report, MU Extension shared a few notable examples of the many ways that extension addresses its land-grant mission to people through community.
Missouri AgrAbility is proud to share the 2016 edition of the Human Environmental Sciences Extension (HES) Impact, a report on HES Extension programs serving Missouri's families and communities. This publication gives a sample of the exciting programs available throughout the state of Missouri and features AgrAbility, pages 6 - 9, Farmers and ranchers with disabilities keep working with AgrAbility's help.
Submitted by Karen Funkenbusch
Jessica Crane, UMKC School of Pharmacy student, prepared and submitted an article to the OATS, Inc. newsletter, The Wheel, titled "Pharm Fact: Summer Safety with Water Pills." The article educates about sun and heat safety with use of medicines for high blood pressure called diuretics (often known as water pills). OATS, Inc. is a non-profit providing specialized transportation for thousands of Missourians, including the rural general public, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in 87 Missouri counties. The Wheel, their quarterly newsletter, is distributed to over 24,000 readers throughout Missouri.
Additionally, the article discussing blood pressure safety in the summer heat was expanded on the Pharm to Farm website. Pharm to Farm and UMKC School of Pharmacy are collaborators with Missouri AgrAbility Project.
Many times rural pharmacists that are serving the health and safety needs of potential AgrAbility clients may not have access to the most recent research or updates in health management strategies. So student pharmacists set out to answer questions that are relevant to pharmacists as they provide care in their rural communities. Christine Giesing, PharmD student, investigated some alternative options in the management of type 1 diabetes: http://info.umkc.edu/pharmtofarm/clinical-question-dm/. Alicyn Magruder investigated a comparison of dosing for individuals with heart failure: http://info.umkc.edu/pharmtofarm/drug-information-question-for-heart-failure/ and analyzed recent research which shows the benefit of bedtime dosing of blood pressure medicines associated with preventing new diabetes:http://info.umkc.edu/pharmtofarm/journal-club-supplement/.
Kelly Cochran, PharmD, BCPS, submitted a presentation abstract proposal titled Training Student Pharmacists to Become Partners in Agricultural Health and Safety for the 2016 Midwest Rural Agricultural Safety & Health Conference in Sioux Center, Iowa. The proposed presentation would educate participants so they are able to recognize the potential benefits of delivery of pharmacy services in rural communities and will be able to give examples of how student pharmacists can be equipped with skills to become partners in agricultural health and safety.
Submitted by Kelly Cochran
Staff Changes
Abigail Yarick is a senior health science student at the University of Missouri - Columbia. She grew up on a family-owned-and-operated 5,000 acre row crop farm where corn, soybeans, and wheat are grown. Recently, Abby and her family have enjoyed starting Circle Y Herefords - a side business raising and selling Registered Horned Herefords. Having a background in agriculture and a passion for serving and helping others in a healthcare career, she is excited to be interning with the MU Extension, Missouri AgrAbility Program this summer. Abby hopes to learn how she can better implement aspects of health in agriculture by becoming aware of current wellness and safety concerns that need to be addressed within the farming population. She is looking forward to helping conduct on-the-farm assessments for Missouri AgrAbility clients and participating in various events including presentations and other projects at the Missouri State Fair.
John Cormac McGinnis is currently a senior health sciences student at the University of Missouri- Columbia. Coming this August, John will be receiving his Bachelor's degree of Health Sciences in health sciences along with a dual minor in both psychology and business. Growing up in Chicago, John didn't have that much experience when it came to things like agriculture, but during his time at the University, he soon realized that health and agriculture often intertwine with the real world which led him to want to learn more about how the two work together to help our nation's hard-working people. John is also involved with an array of charity work that allows him to give back to his community. During his free time John likes to spend his time on things like physical activities. He enjoys all types of sports but has most recently been focusing on golf and boxing. John hopes that, through working with AgrAbility, he will gain more insight on how the health and agriculture field work together on a daily basis.
Jaime grew up on a small farm in Pike County, Illinois, an area well known for deer hunting. She spent many hours in the woods with her dad, learning about hunting and the outdoors. She also kept active with sports, 4-H, and helping on the farm. Today, Jaime is a healthcare specialist with the Missouri Army National Guard. Currently, Jaime is a senior at the University of Missouri majoring in health sciences. She plans to graduate with her Bachelor's in December of 2016. She is very excited to start working with MU Extension AgrAbility. She will focus on veterans and farmers with traumatic brain injuries. Through MU AgrAbility, Jaime will be able to combine two parts of her life; her childhood on the farm and her current work in the military.
David Middleton grew up on a diversified grain and livestock farm near Laddonia, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Animal Science. The project that David had started in FFA grew into internationally recognized swine herds of Yorkshire and Landrace that won many national and state shows and breeding stock sold to 38 states and 14 foreign countries. In 1986, a registered Angus beef herd was established and today, embryo transfer is involved to develop superior breeding stock. As agriculture has changed in recent years, "Middleton's All Natural Meats" was established to direct-market beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, and eggs. Currently meats are sold at farmers markets, farm sales, and via internet. The Middleton farm is operated as sustainably possible with managed intensive grazing and use of renewable inputs. In 2008, the Middleton Family Farm was awarded the Grassland Farmer award for Lawrence County. David and his wife Cherri have 6 children and 3 grandchildren.