North Carolina

The AT Vendor Expo is an event hosted by NC AgrAbility partner NC Assistive Technology Program. This year the expo was on October 5 at the NCSU McKimmon Center, Raleigh, NC. This event is an opportunity to learn about what providers offer as services for individuals with disabilities and new technology available to overcome visual, hearing, mobility, and many other limitations. NC AgrAbility participated as an exhibitor showing different ergonomic tools for farming and gardening, provided literature about how to deal with arthritis and back impairments, and allowed attendees to sign in to the NC AgrAbility listserv. NC AgrAbility also participated as a presenter giving attendees the chance to learn about farmers with disabilities. NC AgrAbility staff reached approximately 100 attendees.

October 10, NC AgrAbility participated as a vendor at the United We Farm - North Carolina Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference in Raleigh, NC. This conference targets military veterans who are turning to agriculture for viable careers, for healing invisible wounds, and for finding a new sense of purpose after heeding the call of service. The purpose of the event was to introduce farmer veterans and aspiring farmer veterans to the many resources available throughout the state to help them succeed; to hear stories of North Carolina veterans who have been able to start their farming careers, many as first-generation farmers; and to promote the benefits of the Homegrown by Heroes label. NC AgrAbility staff, farmers, and stakeholders participated at this event.

The 2018 NC State Fair in Raleigh, NC, is a 10-day event that ran this year from October 12-21. The fair had a final attendance of 977,256, which was record-setting in more ways than just strong attendance. The NCSU College of Ag and Environmental Sciences at NCA&T participated as an exhibitor, and NC AgrAbility had the chance to share the booth with them. About 200 people took advantage of the informative materials from NC AgrAbility, who staffed the booth with the assistance of some of the NC AgrAbility staff and farmers who came to provide information about the program to the many attendees.

The Grassroots Leadership Conference, held October 17, is an annual forum that brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss real issues that impact local citizens and provides participants with an opportunity to engage in dialogue and to learn more about identified issues. Community leaders, students, Cooperative Extension personnel, social services providers, Extension advisory council members, 4-H Club leaders and North Carolina residents attended the event and were able to receive information about the NC AgrAbility program which participated as a vendor, providing attendees the opportunity to learn about how to work with disabilities, resources available to the community, and how to keep informed about events related to disabilities and farming. The event also left NC AgrAbility with a new self-referred client.

October 29, NC AgrAbility staffed a booth at the Bailey Conference in Raleigh, NC. This event builds upon the commonality of culture and race as an engagement tool for inter-generational individuals in the agricultural and rural community development field. The overall goal of the conference is to identify available resources to build communities and retain black growers in the state. This event was a great place to network with other organizations providing resources to minorities. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the NC AgrAbility program and to sign up to receive more information about the program.

Submitted by Beatriz (Betty) Rodriguez