Nebraska

Staff attended the Beginning Farmers & Ranchers meeting in Lincoln in early May. This group meets quarterly to talk about the challenges beginning farmers and ranchers are facing. There was talk about new loan programs that may be coming out to assist them as well as the continuation of the veteran farmer conference that Legal Aid and Center for Rural Affairs hosts. Nebraska AgrAbility is targeted for future collaboration in this conference.

In May, Easterseals Nebraska staff was invited to the VNA/ESN Staff Appreciation in Omaha. Staff members were recognized for their outstanding work, and AgrAbility's Angie Howell was honored for 15 years of service with Easterseals.

Staff attended the Norfolk Community Veterans Meeting. A large topic of conversation was rural healthcare for veterans; especially transportation to appointments for those who cannot afford their own. In many rural Nebraska areas, this service is not available.

The staff has been busy checking on clients and their new equipment.. Wendell Rohrer has been diagnosed with transverse myelitis. This affects his spinal cord and his nerves. Because of this, Wendell's mobility is very limited and he cannot complete some essential tasks on the farm. "I was going to have to cut back or rent things out," stated Wendell. Among other things, Nebraska AgrAbility helped in providing Wendell with a side-by-side UTV, which he says he could not have purchased on his own. "If you have a disability, this is a very special program and I encourage you to contact AgrAbility for their services. It could change your way of life."

Submitted by Susan Harris-Broomfield