Vermont

Vermont AgrAbility continues its peer-to-peer service, which includes many things, but mainly matches farmers who have newly acquired disabilities with farmers that have previously acquired these disabilities and continue to farm with them.

One particular peer support person in Vermont is Merton Pike, 94 years old and a double amputee since 1974, who still continues to farm with his son and grandchildren and who supports the Vermont AgrAbility Project by hospital visits, phone calls, and hand-written letters to amputees. He has been doing this ever since AgrAbility was created. In fact, he had some input to the creation of the AgrAbility program many years ago. The attached pictures include Merton and his grandson sharpening the blades on a chopper and another of Merton checking the completed project. The other two pictures show Merton's assistive technology device that was created to help him get around the farm, and to carry his tools and his walking cane . He also maintains the grass around the barn and farm houses with this device. He does most of the hay cutting with an adapted international tractor with hand controls. Vermont AgrAbility is very proud of the accomplishments Merton has achieved since his accident, and would like to say thank you very much to Merton for his services to AgrAbility.

Submitted by Tom Younkman