Tennessee

TN AgrAbility and partners helped a cattle farmer who is a wheelchair user get back to driving his tractor and doing what he loves. THANKS to all the instrumental partners working together to make the Life Essentials flatbed pilot truck lift a reality. It was funded by TN Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Service/Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR), and assistance was provided by: Kim Lilley (TN Technology Access Program) plus Ryan Barnhart DVR); Nikki Simmons (Driving Independence), Life Essentials-Bill Begley, and Putnam County Extension Agent Wayne Key. Where there is a will, there is a way!

Dr. Deborah Reed, University of Kentucky, represented AgrAbility at the International Rural Nurse Conference in Nashville, TN, July 23-26. It was a great opportunity to share with over 400 rural health nurses. She was one of the keynote speakers, so agriculture and farm health and safety were represented from the podium.

TN AgrAbility exhibited at the 2018 NACAA AM/PIC conference in Chattanooga, TN. Thank you to National AgrAbility for resources, Bill Begley and Life Essentials for bringing many Assistive Technology demonstrations, Tag Equipment Distributors for donating the Kubota tractor, and farmers Brenda and Ron Bridges and Stephanie Trost for helping promote FVC and AgrAbility while 1400 participants from 46 states were hosted!

Congratulations to AgrAbility's KY/TN team for being awarded the national winners in the Search for Excellence for Farm Health and Safety category for the Farm Dinner Theater! Dr. Deborah Reed and her team were presented the award at the 2018 NACAA - National Association of County Agricultural Agents conference in Chattanooga.

Thirty-five veterans and one active duty soldier were special guests at the Tennessee Farmer Veteran Picnic hosted by TN AgrAbility at Milan No Till Field Day. There were 80 in attendance. A special program was performed by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 995 Honor Guard. A steak dinner was enjoyed by all. Speakers from USDA and UT TSU Extension gave a brief overview of their programs. Sponsors for the picnic were: Henry/McNairy/Chester County Cattlemen's Associations; Farmspace; Cargill; Tyson Foods; Tyson Grain Services; TN Farm Bureau; and Mid-America Farm Credit.

Submitted by Tennessee AgrAbility